Christopher Lantz

Submitted by Brad R.

In this incredibly touching compilation video by Jean-Louis Nguyen shows us what brought us together as a nation and a planet over last 12 months.

A six-minute tribute to some of the moments, people and stories that ‘brought us together’ this year, from tragic to triumphant, challenging or inspiring. Here’s to 2013.

Jean-Louis has also put together a pretty comprehensive Google Doc listing all the sources for his video.

Simply beautiful.

via The Awesomer

Songwriter Jonathan Mann, whom we’ve posted about many times over the years and who also wrote us a neat “Happy Birthday Laughing Squid” song, celebrates the viral videos of 2013 in his latest song.

We learned about wealth inequality. Psy showed us what a gentleman could be. And we learned all the things that foxes say. Van Damme did some splits. Telekeinesis in the Coffee shop. And Evian babies wouldn’t stop. And goats screaming like humans. Goats screaming like humans

submitted via Laughing Squid Tips

Artist Robert Fink enlisted the help of a couple friends to create Knight Man, an elaborate video game proposal to his now-fiancée Angel.

I couldn’t allow myself to just do a normal proposal, it had to be special. Something we would remember forever to remind us where we started. Simple times playing games together growing up and learning that games can convey all sorts of emotion, I wanted her to see all the spikes I would jump over for her. :P

You can read the whole story of how the proposal went down and play Knight Man at Fink’s website.

via Viral Viral Videos

video via Lockheed Martin

The DARPA Robotics Challenge, which challenges competing teams to develop robots that can perform a variety of disaster response missions, is now holding the DRC 2013 Trials at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida. The robots are faced with eight tasks which they must complete semi-autonomously, including driving a utility vehicle, connecting a fire hose, and cutting through a wall. The top teams will go on to compete in the 2014 Finals, which will be much more rigorous. The Trials take place December 20 and 21 and can be watched live on YouTube:

video via DARPA

See it larger. Image via DARPA

via Wired

JibJab 2013 Year in Review: What A Year! is an animated, musical recap of the major news and culture events of 2013 by JibJab. Check out a behind-the-scenes look at how it was made at the JibJab blog.

How will Obamacare affect our nation? Did the NSA Scandal reveal a gross violation of our rights? And what exactly DOES the Fox say? A lot of twerk went into making 2013 a year we’ll never forget, so enjoy Miley, Pope Francis, and even Carlos Danger in #WhatAYear: JibJab’s 2013 Year in Review!

“Castababy” – Cast Away

A mother and father — Lilly and Leon — of Cardboard Box Office use common household items and their cute baby boy Orson to recreate famous movies scenes. You can view more photos from their ongoing series online.

The project began after finding that we had accumulated both a lot of cardboard boxes (due to moving to a new country) and a baby (due to giving birth). With our social lives drastically altered we decided to find a way to make some of those housebound weekends a little more fun.

The costumes, props, and sets in Cardboard Box Office are created entirely out of everyday household items, toys, cardboard, and three individuals slowly losing their sanity. Enjoy!

“Wah Wars” – Star Wars

“The Dark Knighty-Night” – The Dark Knight

“The Life Domestic” – The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

“Bubbalien” – Alien

images via Cardboard Box Office

submitted via Laughing Squid Tips

All this Japanese man wants to do is drink his sorrows away, but his thoughtful shibe friend insists that he’s had enough to drink.

via http://fucktum.tumblr.com/post/60567520173/wtbw-via-voyage-on-the-planet-by-chiu-chih

What started as an April Fool’s joke in 2012 has now become a real ThinkGeek product, the Technomancer Digital Wizard Hoodie. The magical hoodie enables wearers to cast nine different spells with light and sound effects using hand movements. It’s available to purchase online at ThinkGeek.

Wild Mage. Wizard. Sorcerer. Illusionist. Enchanter. Invoker. Necromancer. There are so many words to describe people who wield magical powers. We have one word: badass. Let’s look at your average adventuring party: The fighter swings her greatsword, cleaving through two orcs. Sweet. The rogue pops out of the shadows, backstabbing the hobgoblin. Nice! The ranger fires an arrow through the throat of The Bandit King, right in the middle of his monologue. Love it. The cleric is adept with both a mace and a bandage. Phew! But the wizard sets entire battlefields on fire before lunch.

Here’s how it works:

And this is the original 2012 April Fool’s video:

images and videos via ThinkGeek

Are you the kind of person who likes to wear your moods on your sleeve? If so, then the GER Mood Sweater by SENSOREE is for you. This unique wearable device changes color with your mood with the use of LEDs. It’s kind of like a Mood Ring, only cooler.

The GER: Galvanic Extimacy Responder sensors read excitement levels and translate the data into a palette of affective colors. The high collar, bowl positioned with LEDs reflects onto the self for instant biofeedback and acts as a tele-display or external blush for the other. Located around the larynx, the visual interface replaces speaking, as the wearer’s truths are instantly expressed with color.

SENSOREE is only making 100 of these sweaters and is currently taking pre-orders for purchase in March 2014.

images via SENSOREE

via Discovery News

Nine Inch Nails has released its full Tension 2013 concert at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on November 8th. The concert and extra content will be released on DVD and Blu-ray in Spring 2014, and a full setlist is available in the video’s description on YouTube. Previously, we wrote about behind-the-scenes videos of how the tour was put together and stunning photos of the show from art director Rob Sheridan.

Canadian band Walk Off The Earth — known for covering popular songs in unique ways — has created a cover of the classic Christmas song “Little Drummer Boy” with help from a few musical dogs. The track is available to purchase online from iTunes.

videos via Walk off the Earth and gianniANDsarahMusic

via Daily of the Day

DJ Earworm brings his sixth annual mashup United States of Pop, wrapping up 25 greatest hits from this year in pop music.

Video editor Sleepy Skunk mashed up 323 scenes from movie trailers released this year into an eye-dazzling six-minute montage of explosions, sweeping views and high speed photography at their finest. For a full list of the films used, head on over to his Tumblr blog.

Back in May we posted about “Wonderland,” a fairy tale photo series by British photographer Kirsty Mitchell that features striking makeup and costumes. Mitchell recently completed the final chapter of the series, entitled “Gaia, The Birth Of An End.” This behind-the-scenes video shows the painstaking work behind the remarkable photograph. The video was created by FX Media. “Wonderland” prints are available here.

photo by Kirsty Mitchell, video via FX Media

via DIYPhotography.net, PetaPixel

Loki the red fox jumps up and down and yips excitedly for treats at his home in the Turtle Bay Exploration Park. Loki’s trainers have been working on his “talking” cue to demonstrate what foxes really sound like since the release of Ylvis’ popular music video that asks “What Does the Fox Say?”

Loki is a very special red fox who came to Turtle Bay Exploration Park at 6 weeks old. He was found as an orphan and could not be released back into the wild. Being so young, he had to go home every night with the animal trainers. Since the “What Does the Fox Say” video came out, we decided it was an important educational message to let people know what their vocalizations really sound like. Working to put his “talking” on cue this video shows the first time we worked on it with him. He is quite the character and with 28 different vocalizations, he sure has a lot to say.

video via Turtle Bay Exploration Park, GIF via GIFAK.net

via reddit

photo by Alexander Koch

Al Ridenour looks at the history of the demonic European Christmastime character Krampus in the Atlas Obscura article, “The Truth About Krampus.” Ridenour is the director of the Los Angeles Krampusfest, which commences on December 5.

Accompanying St. Nicholas on his gift-giving rounds to direct a little switch-swinging intimidation toward the naughtier kids, the Krampus has become the most well-known of other Central European characters playing a similar role. Originally appearing under that name in Austria and Southern Germany, his distinctive devilish appearance is not easily confused with Northern Germany’s hooded Knecht Ruprecht or Holland’s “Moorish” Zwarte Piet (“Black Peter”).

image via Kohelet

Make it so, make it so, make it so!

Captain Picard sings “Let It Snow!” in this festive one-minute video created by James Covenant with clips from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

via Tastefully Offensive

boxxyandthespheregirls:

This was actually pretty amazing!

Catie’s fluttershy melted my heart?!

thefrogman:

[video]

via http://www.tumblr.com/dashboard