This is the footage from downhill cyclist Rachel Atherton's helmet-cam as she absolutely tears down a course in Lenzerheide, Switzerland to win her 5th Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) World Championship title. I don't know how people can even react that fast. There's no question if that had been me I would have missed the second turn and ended up in the woods wrapped around a tree. And despite what those Ents would have you believe, they're actually terrible lovers. Plus I think ol' Treebeard still gave me something even though I took precautions. "You made a condom out of poison ivy." They looked like maple leaves!
Keep going for the video, it's intense. Also probably not for anyone who gets motion sickness easily.
This is a video from retro design and animation professional FuturePunk, featuring modern internet company logos reimagined as animated television intros from the 1970's through early 90's. I thought they were all well executed, and really took me back to the 80's. "Do you even remember the 80's?" Nothing specific except all the times I pooped when and where I wasn't supposed to.
This is a video of the 12,000 domino rainbow spiral constructed by Hevesh5, Sprice Machines, and Dynamic Domino over the course of two days, and knocked down in only a matter of seconds. But, just like a frienemy at the bar who's gotten too drunk, it really is glorious to watch fall.
Keep going for the whole video including timelapse build, and knock-down and reversal in regular speed and slow motion from two angles.
Note: Keep your volume low, power tools and screaming.
This is a video of a guy scaring his father while he's trying to replace some flooring in their trailer's laundry room, and sending his dear old dad through the fiberglass insulation to the grass below. Who the hell tries to scare their dad while he's operating a reciprocating saw? A friend or neighbor, sure, but a loved ones? That's not right. "Says the guy who screamed bloody murder the last time I was pulling a pie out of the oven." Okay now that was comedy gold, dear.
Remember Blue Marble? Well this is the sequel, Blue Marble 2, a Rube Goldberg style machine that moves the titular blue marble around a 2-D course via the power of potential energy. You probably won't watch it which is a shame because it really is worth a view, it's very clever. Some more info on the balloon air cannon part while I see how long a lunch break I can take without anybody saying anything (my previous record is 26 hours):
The air cannon with the balloon was a big challenge to make. The rubber band squeezes the balloon around the straw to release the air in a specific direction. Then the hardest part was to find how to stop the air and deliver it when I want. It was too difficult to put something like tape at the end of the straw because it was either too clingy or not enough.
The solution was to twist the balloon around the straw and block it in this position with a rope. In this position the air stays in the balloon until it untwists. I explain it because I think what exactly happened it's not easy to get when you see the video.
It's crazy how absolutely perfectly every part has to work for the blue marble to make it safely to the end of its journey. It's just like the moon landing, but with fewer giant leaps for mankind. "So zero." Personally I give it a solid hop over a crack in the sidewalk. "When I was younger I used to purposefully step on cracks when I was mad at my mom." Please don't ever tell her that, it'll break her heart.
Keep going for the video while I finally swallow the tiny square of Apollo 11 command module foil I've been saving for a special occasion.
Capcom has announced the release of 5-inch, 3.2-ounce, solid 24-carat gold Mega Man (Rockman) statues to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the franchise. They cost $22,000. You rich but not that rich? They're also selling a 2.3-inch, 0.7-ounce version for $6,300. Obviously, with the price of gold hovering right around $1,200 an ounce, it would be significantly cheaper to make your own. And significantly cheaper than that to not even want a solid gold Mega Man statue. But we can't always help what we want, which is why I want you to take this knife and cut one of my kidneys out. "There's already a huge scar back here." Damn, I forgot I bought that solid gold Godzilla statue. Okay just take the other one.
This is a video of a rarely seen deep-sea gulper eel (aka pelican eel, clearly a water type of Pokemon) going through its defensive protocol after being approached by an unmanned submersible. It starts with a classic barrel roll, then blows its balloon head up until its huge and does some shakes before finally unhinging its giant gaping jaws towards the threat. I don't know about you, but that would definitely send me swimming in the opposite direction -- I don't care if the thing is only two feet long. I've bolted from far less terrifying fish in the past. "He ran straight through a glass door at Red Lobster." Thanks for that, honey.
Keep going for the whole video, complete with delightful scientist commentary.
This is a video demonstration of the very impressive little automaton created by LEGO builder Daniele Benedettelli. LEGO Ludwig van Beethoven performs a song on the five key glockenspiel whenever his crank is turned or motor engaged. As you can see, its movement is entirely 'programmed' on the little train that passes by in the form of block pieces with varying depth (detail shown in the second half of the video). Now that is a clever design. Maybe not as clever as my latest LEGO design, but I've been petitioning for LEGO to make me Master Builder for years. "We're not releasing a series of erotic playsets." Customers demand it!
