This is a short video of a little parrot demonstrating its ability to play dead when its caretaker fires a round from his finger gun. Overall *lifting '8' scorecard over head* a very solid performance. For reference, my dog only know how to sit, and bite your fingers if you're holding a treat or something that could be mistaken for a treat by a maniac like a television remote or Playstation controller.
Keep going for the video, but the gif is really it minus audio.
This is a clip from a Ring home security camera living out its surveillance life in Lake Tahoe starring a bear that opens a Subaru's back door and climbs right on in there, presumably as payback for that no-good Goldilocks. Smear poop all over it, bear -- that's what I do. Wait, I mean -- that's what I would do. That's what I would do if I weren't an upstanding member of citizen of society and hey -- are those your car keys?
Keep going for the video while I speculate just how much better a driver that bear is than most people around here.
This is Retrogression: Vol 1, a rock album by musician Stemage of classic video game themes (Super Mario Bros., Punch Out, Ghosts 'n Goblins, and Tetris) performed backwards (Sorb Oiram Repus, Tuo Hcnup, Snilbog n' Stsohg, and Sirtet). I think the Super Mario Bros. theme almost sounds the same backwards as it does forwards. "I don't believe in backwards." I don't even know what that means but I think you might be right!
Keep going for a video of the Super Mario Bros one, followed by the whole album, complete with the reversals reversed so you can hear that too if you're having trouble sleeping tonight.
This is the weird-ass launch commercial for Google's just-released Stadia, a streaming gaming platform that allows you to game across televisions, laptops, desktops, and certain tablets and smartphones, as long as you have Wi-Fi. $129 gets you the Stadia controller and Google Chromecast (so you can play on TVs). $9.99/month Stadia pro allows UP TO 4K resolution and 60FPS, with 5.1 surround sound. Next year a free ("base") membership option will also be available with resolution up to 1080 at 60FPS and stereo sound. You still have to buy games. Or, you can do what I've always done and-- "Pirate them?" What? No -- put them on your birthday and Christmas lists. Just what do you take me for? "Well you said you had a pegleg a couple articles back and now you're wearing an eyepatch, so..." Don't judge a book by its cover, that's what you should take away from this.
Keep going for the commercial and tell me what you think of the idea of the platform in the comments. I'm sure at least two of you have something insightful to say.
Because heck yeah, tetanus, this is a video of builder Tim Sway constructing an electric guitar body out of the nails he's pulled from the reclaimed wood he uses for other projects. Hey -- waste not, want not, that's my motto. "I just saw you throw a laptop in the trash." It said the hard drive was almost full!
Keep going for a video of the guitar being made, and played at the end.
This is a video of 19-year old Bavarian good Samaritan Alexander Oswald helping a beaver carry a large branch across the road because he was worried the animal might get run over while struggling to relocate the branch itself. Well that was sweet of him. I'd like to think I'd have done the same thing, but the truth is I try to keep my distance from beavers. You know why? "You're gonna lie and say you have a pegleg and you're afraid of what they might do to it." I DO AND I AM.
Keep going for the video, complete with 100% your RDA of German laughter.
This is a short video of two kids showing off their incredibly impressive spear skills during a competition taking place in what appears to be a school gymnasium. Man, those skills deserve better than a school gym. I'm thinking UNDER THE BIG TOP. "We're not joining your circus." Your loss, Foot Clan. Also it kinda sucks the video quality is so poor, but it's probably a blessing in disguise because if we watched this in 4K we'd probably all be dead right now.
Keep going for the full video (and definitely stick around for the second kid) while I daydream I'm a skilled martial artist.
These are the 'Volkspod' minibikes built by Brent Walter after removing the fenders from a Volkswagen bug for his 'Volksrod' project (a fenderless bug, picture after the jump). The Volkspods were constructed by welding pieces of four bug fenders (two front, two back) together to form the body and give them a vintage scooter vibe. Simple enough. Some more info from Brent while I launch my own minibike-on-demand company like everyone is doing with those electric scooters:
The Volkspods scooters use custom-built frames with engines built in and covered by type 1 classic Beetle model fenders. It is equipped with a retro bike handlebar, a seat, as well as head- and tail lights. Walter made two classic variants: birch green and pastel blue.
"The original (green) has a 79cc motor and is more for looks than it is practical," elaborated Walter. "The second (blue) one has more ground clearance and a 212cc motor. It is more practical to ride around on the road."
Pretty slick. Would I ride one? Depends, do you have to have a driver's license to operate one? "Has that ever stopped you before?" NOTHING'S EVER STOPPED ME BUT TREES AND THE PO-PO.
Keep going for several more shots and a short video of the bikes being ridden, but check out Brent's Instagram page for a ton more build shots if you're into this.
