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Humpty Dumpty in the Style of Edgar Allan Poe

So I missed Poe's birthday by one day, but this is worth it: a version of "Humpty Dumpty" written by Dylan Curry in the style of Edgar Allan Poe. The poem: Once upon a wall of stone Sat Humpty Dumpy all alone Shrouded in a web of gloom His fate as near as tomorrow's tomb For earth called him As he teetered and fell And the ground took him And mangled his shell All the angels in heaven And Demons below Were soaked in yolk As they fought for his soul Now my own days grow shorter The... READ ON

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James Ellroy's LA: City of Demons

James Ellroy, author of L.A. Confidential and The Black Dahlia has a new show premiering tonight (Wednesday, January 19) at 10pm Eastern on Investigation Discovery. It's called "James Ellroy's LA: City of Demons." It focuses on true crime in Los Angeles, primarily in the 40's, 50's, and 60's. And it's one of the weirdest things I've seen on cable TV in a long time. Here's the trailer: The Fascinating Weirdness of James Ellroy Ellroy is a man obsessed with crime victims. And he has good... READ ON

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OOPS: Cameras Being Dropped, Lost, and Tossed

oops is a short film featuring YouTube clips of cameras being dropped, submerged, thrown, or otherwise lost -- mostly by accident. Director Chris Beckman does a great job of stitching together the clips in sequence, so they lead into each other. Without context, the film becomes strangely personal, as many of the clips show people just hanging out around the house...or the pool...or the trampoline. And you usually get to hear how upset the videographers become once their camera is dropped. It's ten... READ ON

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Michael Caine Impersonates Michael Caine

Okay, the snake is now eating its tail. Back in November, we were treated to No, THIS is How Michael Caine Speaks -- a series of Michael Caine impersonations, along with more in the comments. Now, Caine offers an impersonation of himself. As one YouTube commenter said, "Michael Caine has the worst Michael Caine voice ever." At some point we will have to establish an international governing body responsible for defining what Michael Caine sounds like. And I think Michael Caine should have nothing... READ ON

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Adorable Kids With Obsolete Technology

Ready to feel really old? In this video, some French-Canadian kids are presented with technology from the 80's and 90's. They then try to figure out what the items are, and the results are delightful. Although the video is in French (and I don't speak any French), I could easily follow what was going on. My favorite parts: upon being presented with a Gameboy, a girl declares it a "telephone" (makes sense from her perspective -- a little screen, some buttons, made to be held in the hand); and the... READ ON

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Ask MetaFilter Contains Everything You'll Ever Want to Know

Ask MetaFilter is a community site in which people ask and answer questions. There are tons of new questions every day, and they're all over the map -- you'll find life-and-death situations, complex technical topics, and even recipe suggestions. At the moment (as of 9am Pacific on January 6, 2011), I see a bunch of computer questions, along with these gems: Whats the vibe like in Manzanillo, Costa Rica (Nicoya)? - 0 answers What would be a good low maintenance freshwater fish that would thrive in... READ ON

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How Play Sparks Creativity

This TED Talk from designer Tim Brown is awesome -- it's about how playfulness is crucial to creative thinking. And it really is fun: at one point in the talk, he asks audience members to bombard him with foam missiles, leaving the stage littered with drifts of toys. At various points he asks the audience to draw pictures and other playful things. He also goes through various examples of how play has led to important designs in the real world. Discussed: how adults fear the judgment of our peers,... READ ON

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Inside the Surprisingly Delicious World of Cat Food Taste Testing

Cat food is serious business. Taking underutilized and low-value raw materials like animal byproducts and turning them into high-value foods can be, not surprisingly, very lucrative. Along with other pet foods, cat food makes up a hefty portion of the international prepared foods market. The crowns of the cat food kings are heavy, though. Their products have to be palatable and nutritious for cats, as well as convenient and economic for the owner. Accomplishing that first part isn’t easy when many of... READ ON

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A Remote-Controlled Plane Flies Through New York City

I would imagine that New Yorkers would be a little concerned about any unusual aircraft zipping around their airspace. So it is particularly remarkable that a team managed to assemble a remote-controlled miniature airplane, equip it with a camera, and fly it around various parts of the city, including parts of Manhattan, over the top of the Brooklyn Bridge, over the Statue of Liberty, and so on -- without getting arrested or having their aircraft taken down. Here's the video: According to various... READ ON

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This is My PVC Instrument

Inspired by Blue Man Group, "Snubby J" created a "PVC Instrument" and performs a medley of songs at the Del Ray South Talent Show. Stick around at least for the Super Mario Bros theme. Okay, actually stick around at least until "Like a Virgin," and there is a surprise if you stay tuned through the 5-minute mark. This guy's got a career as a PVC performer, methinks. Apparently you can follow Snubby J (aka Kent Jenkins) on Facebook for more stuff like this. Dude also has a YouTube channel, on... READ ON