11/04/2009
Drunk Driver Calls Cops on Herself [video]
911 operators definitely get their fair share of calls from people observing drunk drivers on the road. However, it's not very often that a drunk driver calls 911 on them self.
In the 911 call [video], a Wisconsin woman named Mary Strey, called 911 and wanted to report a drunken driver. When the 911 dispatcher asked if she was behind the suspect vehicle, she replied "I am them."
She then followed the dispatcher's advice to pull over and turn on her flashers, telling him she had been "drinking all night long."
methodshop
10/22/2009
It works! Ballmer Demos Windows 7 on the TODAY Show [video]
Fresh off the heels of Apple's new product announcements this week, Microsoft released their new operating system, Windows 7 today.
Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, even stopped by the American morning program, the TODAY Show, to show off the new OS to co-anchor Matt Lauer [video].
Ballmer took on some tough questions from Lauer including:
- Can consumers use the iPhone to satisfy all their computing needs?
- Will Windows 7 get the same lukewarm reaction to Microsoft's previous operating system, Vista?
- Is Ballmer envious of Apple's "cool" image?
methodshop
10/20/2009
World's Luckiest Racecar Driver... Inches From Death [video]
Here's video of a racecar colliding with "nature." It's a pretty intense video. Maybe there's a new show idea here for the Discovery Channel - "Man vs. Tree" [video].
methodshop
Labels: video
10/19/2009
Baby Stroller Rolls into Path of Train [video]
Forget Balloon Boy. Meet Train Baby! Police in Melbourne, Australia say a 6-month-old baby has miraculously survived a train hitting his stroller that had rolled onto the tracks [video].
CCTV security video footage released last Friday shows the mother looking away for a moment when the stroller suddenly rolls off the edge of a station platform just as a train is approaching.
The train pushed the stroller about 130 feet along the tracks before it stopped. The six-month-old baby suffered only a bump to his head.
Hopefully mom will keep a closer eye on the stroller for now on.
methodshop
Labels: video
10/16/2009
Piano Staircase [video]
How do you convince an increasingly overweight population to get a little more exercise by taking the stairs instead of the escalator? What if you make it fun?The Fun Theory team chose a German metro staircase for their piano experiment. They connected pressure sensors to thin black and white colored decals and installed them on each step. The team then rigged each decal to play the corresponding piano sound each time someone stepped on one of the sensors [video].
From helping the environment to helping yourself, Volkswagen's clever "Fun Theory" viral ad campaign attempts to change people’s behavior for the better. We're not sure it will help them sell cars, but at least they are helping people while associating their brand with fun and innovation.
methodshop
Labels: advertising, video
10/15/2009
Pumpkin Boat Racing [video]
What do you do with a giant record breaking pumpkin that weighs over 1,000 lbs!? Hollow it out and race it! Pumpkin Boat Racing first started gaining popularity a few years ago (the video above is from 2007). But the Germans have really taken a liking to the fringe sport.According to spiegel.de, they plan on hosting a Pumpkin Boat Raging European Championship in 2010.
Germany staged its first ever pumpkin motor boat racing championship on Sunday. It was such a success that the country plans to host the European championship next year. A woman newcomer to the world of pumpkin racing won the 200-meter race.
Giant pumpkins don't make the best racing boats but they do have one advantage over wood and carbon-fiber-- they can be turned into gallons of soup.
Four contestants took part in Germany's first motor boat pumpkin race on Sunday in their outsized fruit vessels fitted with 3.5 horsepower outboard engines capable of reaching speeds of up to 10 kilometers an hour, said the Holiday Park Hassloch, an amusement park in southwestern Germany which hosted the race.
Related Articles:
methodshop
10/09/2009
Dogs Home Alone [video]
When leaving the house for a few hours, this family always returned to a soaked pool deck and soggy backyard furniture. Were the neighborhood kids secretly using the pool while they were gone? That was the family's first guess but they could never catch them in the act. And if it was the kids, why didn't the dogs scare them off?
So one day the family decided to setup a hidden video camera before they left the house for the afternoon.
This is what they found on the camera when they got home. [video]
methodshop
10/05/2009
Woman Survives Tree Branch Through Neck [video]
Michelle Childers is lucky to be alive after a tree branch went through her neck during a drive through the Montana countryside.The incident occurred as Childers rode in the front passenger seat during a drive with her husband in a remote area along the Lochsa River. The couple rounded a blind curve too fast and a stray branch struck Michelle and pierced her through the neck. The couple then had to drive over an hour to a lodge to get medial attention.
In this video by Washington TV station KHQ, Childers describes an "explosion" of green and a "strange" pressure on her neck and shoulder, along with her confusion at her husband's sudden alarm.
WARNING: Some of the images in this video are graphic.
methodshop
9/28/2009
Kevin Rose Slapshots Golf Ball Into Diggnation Fan's Face [video]
LPGA tour hottie Anna Rawson, tried to give Kevin Rose golf lessons at a recent live episode of Diggnation. There were a few putting greens setup on stage, however Rose decided to skip the planned golf lessons and slapshot a few balls into the audience.Unfortunately one of his balls ends up smashing into a fan's forehead - who happened to be filming the whole thing. [video]
Definitely a classic moment in Diggnation history.
methodshop
Labels: video
9/24/2009
Apple Keynote - Brainwash Remix [video]
Here's a remix edit of Steve Jobs latest Apple keynote address. Is Apple brainwashing us into buying their great incredible really cool amazing easy gorgeous beautiful awesome products like the new iPod Nano?!methodshop
9/22/2009
Terrible 80's Pickup Lines [video]
Does your significant other complain that you're not "romantic" enough? Perhaps this dating video from the 1980's might help set them straight.After coughing up a few of these terrible pickup lines, simple everyday conversation like "Please pass the salt" will sound romantic.
Here are some of our favorite lines from the video. Enjoy!
- I'm an executive by day and wild man by night.
- Hi my name is Phil. Most of my good friends call me big Phil.
- I'm not afraid to get sand on my Tuxedo.
- I do fashion photography.
- I consider myself a refined valley dude.
- Who so binds to himself a joy thus a winged life destroy.
- I'm looking for the Goddess. Are you the Goddess?
- I'm a 25 year subscriber to both Playboy and The New Yorker.
- At night I operate a damsel in distress hot line. I guess you'd call me at night.
- I'm just sugar and spice and all those things that are nice.
- I like to wear bright socks.
- Life is a playground and I want somebody to play with.
- I will cry at a commercial.
- I'm interested in most phases of data processing.
- Type "A" I'm not. Comfortable, caring and serious about a relationship I am.
methodshop
9/21/2009
Conan O'Brien Plays 1860's 'Old Time' Baseball [video]
What's Conan O'Brien's all-time favorite clip from his 16 years hosting Late Night with Conan O'Brien?
VIDEO: Conan Playing 1860s Baseball.
methodshop
Labels: video
9/17/2009
Kanye West Interrupts Barack Obama's Speech to Congress [video]
Looks like this odd trend of publicly interrupting people is feeding an Internet meme.Here's a funny video mashup of Kayne West's interruption of Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Music Video Awards and Republican Rep. Joe Wilson's "You Lie" outburst during American President Barack Obama's speech to Congress last week.
And in case you missed it, here's the unedited video of Kanye West grabbing the mic as Taylor Swift tries to accept her award and telling the audience that Beyonce "had one of the best videos of all time."
methodshop
Labels: video
9/16/2009
WTF - Snuggie for Dogs [video]
If you've watched TV lately, then you've probably seen the new Snuggie for Dogs commercial. That's right. Snuggies aren't just for humans anymore. As you might expect, the Snuggie for Dogs ad follows the "As seen on TV" commercial formula perfectly. It even has one of those back and white "before" scenes that makes you realize how miserable your life is because you don't already own this product.Here are some classic moments from the Snuggie for Dogs commercial:
- Dog owner attempts to pull an obviously uncomfortable sweater over her dog's head.
- Sleepy dog finally able to nap comfortably now that it's wearing a Snuggie.
- Small white dog throws a doggie tantrum because stupid owner makes it wear a non-Snuggie jacket.
- Old lady and her dog wearing matching Snuggies while sitting on the couch together watching TV and knitting.
By the way, we're pretty sure "Snuggie for Dogs" is one of the signs of the apocalypse.
methodshop
Labels: video
9/09/2009
Guy Catches Laptop With His Butt [video]
What's 
methodshop
Labels: advertising, video
9/08/2009
Mark Wahlberg Talks to Animals [video]
Unless you're a huge fan of the American late night comedy show, Saturday Night Live (SNL), you might have missed a skit called Mark Wahlberg Talks to Animals. The skit features Andy Samberg talking to animals as Mark Wahlberg. The concept might sound a little strange but the skit is hysterical. Samberg is both the perfect sound and look alike to Mark Wahlberg.
Here's a transcript of the skit:
Don Pardo: And now: Mark Wahlberg Talks to Animals.
[graphic]
Mark Wahlberg: Hey! I'm Mark Wahlberg. You guys know me. Let's go talk to some animals.
[walks over to a dog]
Mark Wahlberg: Hey, dog. How's it goin'? I like your fur, that looks really great. So you're a dog, right? What's that all about? [dog just stares ahead, oblivious] Okay, well it was great to meet you. Say hi to your mother for me, okay? [stands up] Now I'm gonna talk to a donkey.
[walks over to a donkey and bends down]
Mark Wahlberg: Hey, donkey. What's goin' on? You're a donkey, I like that. You eat apples, right? I produce Entourage. [donkey just stares ahead, oblivious] Okay, talk to you later, donkey. [stands up] Now I'm gonna talk to a chicken.
[walks over to a chicken on top of a crate]
Mark Wahlberg: Hey, chicken. How's it hangin'? A lot of people wanna eat you, but I just wanna talk to you, okay? We should do a film together, whaddya think? [chicken looks around uninterested] Hey, chicken, I'm not joking around, okay? This is the real thing, I mean this could be huge! [chicken continues to look uninterested] All right, well, think about it. Say hi to your mother for me, alright? Now I'm gonna talk to a goat.
[walks over and squats next to a goat]
Mark Wahlberg: Hey, goat. It's good to see you. I like your beard. I had a beard like that in The Perfect Storm. Did you see that movie? [goat stares ahead oblivious] Did ya, did ya see The Perfect Storm, goat? [goat still stares ahead blankly] Say hi to your mother for me, okay?
Don Pardo: This has been: Mark Wahlberg Talks to Animals.
Mark Wahlberg isn't a big fan of the skit. He had this to say in a NY Post interview he did while promoting Max Payne:
"Someone showed it to me on YouTube. It wasn't like Tina Fey doing Sarah Palin, that's for sure. And "Saturday Night Live" hasn't been funny for a long time. They've asked me to do the show a ton of times. I used to watch it when Eddie Murphy was there and Joe Piscopo and Bill Murray. I don't even know who's on the show now."
Wahlberg also threatened to slap Samberg when he was a guest on the Jimmy Kimmel Show.
But everything all worked out in the end. Wahlberg came on SNL to do his own version of Samberg's imitation of himself a week later:
methodshop
Labels: video
9/04/2009
Gone in 31 Seconds - Apple Store Smash and Grab [video]
What does it take to get 23 MacBook Pros, 14 iPhones, and 9 iPods for free?According to a security video from the Apple Store in Marlton, NJ this week, all you need is four friends, a brick, and 31 seconds.
By the time the security guard was able to run over to the entrance and investigate the sound of the breaking glass, the robbery was already over.
The thieves obviously knew what they were doing. They patiently waited for the security guard to walk away on his rounds before smashing through the plate glass door. They then rush the store, split up, grab as much as they can carry and get out in just half a minute.
methodshop
9/02/2009
Sunday Driver - Living the Lowrider Lifestyle [review]
Rockstar, the company famous for the Grand Theft Auto video game series, sometimes like to flex their creative muscles beyond just games. With the help of documentary filmmaker, Carol Strong, Rockstar released a DVD documentary called Sunday Driver about the lowriding subculture of Compton, CA.
Lowriders have been a prominent part of several of their Grand Theft Auto releases and this lowrider documentary is a natural evolution of their brand and a treat for their existing gaming audience.
The low rider is a little higher...
REVIEW: Sunday Driver: Living the Lowrider Lifestyle
methodshop
8/24/2009
8-Bit Trip [video]
One of the top videos on YouTube today is a stop motion LEGO animation called 8-Bit Trip. The music video is a tribute to classic video games by the Swedish band Rymdreglage. According to the band, the video took LEGO artist Tomas Redigh 1500 hours to create. The song was written by Daniel Larsson.Keep your eyes peeled for appearances by a plethora of 8-bit gaming icons like Pong, Mario, Tetris, Bubble Bobble and Pac-Man.
More LEGO related articles:
- World’s Tallest LEGO Tower [pic]
- 20 Classic Films Recreated in LEGO [pics]
- Man Quits Job to Make Lego Art
- Ultimate Collectors LEGO Millennium Falcon
methodshop
Labels: video
Woman Drags Child On Leash Through Verizon Store [video]
This Alabama (USA) mom was caught on video dragging her child through a Verizon Wireless store on a leash. Guess she didn't realize that most people in a cell phone store either A) already own a cell phone that can take pictures and video or B) just bought a cell phone that can take pictures and video.
Don't worry there's nothing wrong with your speakers. The clip doesn't have any audio.
methodshop
Don't worry there's nothing wrong with your speakers. The clip doesn't have any audio.
methodshop
8/20/2009
WTF - Rooftop Baby Tossing [video]
Look out below! It's raining babies... at least in some parts of India. It sounds crazy, but as you'll see in this CNN video, people actually throw babies off of rooftops because they believe it makes them stronger. Bystanders below then catch the baby with bedsheets.Fly baby fly.
BTW - the baby in the photo on the right wasn't part of the rooftop tossing. It's just a picture we found on flickr.
methodshop
Labels: video
8/18/2009
While I Was Away [video]
At one point in our lives, we've all had an angry girl/boyfriend experience. But chances are, you didn't immortalize that experience in a YouTube video. The video above chronologically takes you through all the emails sent by an angry girlfriend who forgot that her boyfriend was going to be in Europe for 2 weeks."During the Summer of 2007, I had the opportunity to backpack around Europe for 2 weeks. I talked about it often before I left. My girlfriend however, although great in many respects, was not the world's greatest listener. I left on Friday June 1st. Despite even calling her to say goodbye the night before, she never realized I left. When I arrived home 2 weeks later, I had several emails from her, waiting in my inbox..." - JD
The songs used in the video are (in order):
"Angry Girlfriend" photo courtesy of Pixel Addict.
methodshop
Labels: video
8/12/2009
Toshiba To Make Blue-Ray Players
Toshiba announced this week that they will begin producing Blu-ray DVD players. Toshiba had developed the HD-DVD high-definition DVD format and competed and conceded defeat in a format war with Sony's competing Blu-ray in 2008. Details will be made available later this year, but this move should give some much needed momentum to the Blu-ray format. Blu-ray is losing traction competing against online services like Netflix, which stream movies through the Internet directly to consumers.
You can read Toshiba's official news release here.
methodshop
8/11/2009
The Ballad of G.I. Joe [video]
What do the members of G.I. Joe and Cobra do for fun? Here's a 'music video' answer to that question from FunnyOrDie.com. Keep your eyes peeled for celebrities. The clip features an all-star cast including: Henry Rollins, Joey Kern, Alexis Bledel, Alan Tudyk, Billy Crudup, Chuck Liddell, Tony Hale, Laz Alonso, Julianne Moore, Olivia Wilde, Zach Galifianakis, Vinnie Jones and even Sgt Slaughter.
The new G.I. Joe movie, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, opened in theaters on August 7th (USA).
methodshop
8/10/2009
How NOT To Wash Your Car [video]
How NOT to wash your car. See spotless! Also, roofless thanks to the Liebherr R 9800 mining excavator. With a 42 m³ bucket capacity, the R 9800 is the perfect loader for mining trucks as well as roof removing car washes [video]!
methodshop
Labels: video
8/06/2009
Star Wars Freestyle Dance Off [video]
Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park hosted a few "Star Wars Weekends" this summer. The weekends consisted of presentations, memorabilia and apparently a "dance off" with Chewbacca, Storm Troopers, Darth Vader and even a chorus line of Sand People.
What's wilder than a Star Wars Dance Off? How about a Star Wars Dance Off freestyle finale? There's something so wrong watching Princess Amidala grind Darth Vader [video].
methodshop
8/03/2009
BMX Bandits - Review
If you grew up in the 1980's, then you probably remember a movie called BMX Bandits. And because the film was Nicole Kidman's first major role, it continues to get a little more extra attention that other BMX movies like RAD.Over 25 years later, the 1983 movie is still a cult favorite. BMX Bandits was recently re-released on DVD and continues to completely sell out on Amazon.com.
Movie Review: BMX Bandits
methodshop
7/27/2009
Leif Olson's Amazing Hole-In-One [video]
Over the weekend, Leif Olson shot an amazing hole-in-one at the Canadian PGA Open. After teeing off at the 15th hole, his ball rolled down a hill, curved around the green, bounced off another players ball and finally rolled right into the hole. Definitely one of golf's best shots of the year.
Olson's fancy trick shot, probably more suited for a game of pool, not only placed him at 7-under par, but earned him a BMW Z4 Roadster.
methodshop
Labels: video
MacBook Transformer [video]
Check out this viral video ad for La Poste, the French post office. The audio is in French so we're not exactly sure what is being said. Probably something along the lines of how easy it is to send a message. Because after a few clicks, the MacBook transforms into a spaceship and flies away. Maybe to deliver an e-mail?Eagle-eyed Apple fanboys might want to take a closer look at the MacBook before it transforms. Which model laptop is it? It appears to have the MacBook Air's screen but the unibody of a standard MacBook.
methodshop
7/15/2009
TwittARound [video]
Imagine being at an outdoor event or concert and being able to see what people were tweeting about all around you. That's the concept behind TwittARound.TwittARound is an augmented reality Twitter viewer for the iPhone. It shows live tweets around your location on the horizon. Because of video see-through effect you see where the tweet comes from and how far it is away. TwittARound is still in beta, but it looks pretty interesting.
Still not sure what this "Twitter" thing is all about? This methodshop.com tutorial might shed some light on your dilemma.
Tutorial: How to Explain Twitter to Your Grandma
methodshop
Labels: social networking, video
7/10/2009
Optimus Prime does David Letterman's Top Ten List [video]
In case you missed it, earlier this week Optimus Prime from the Transformers movie went on David Letterman's late night show to present the "Top Ten Things That Sound Cool When Spoken By A Giant Robot.""Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," the second Michael Bay movie adaptation of the popular 1980's Hasbro toy line, opened in theaters on June 24, 2009.
Here's the Top 10 list below:
- "Jergens Lotion leaves my hands silky smooth"
- "Do you have these khakis in a size 114?"
- "My perfect night involves a pint of Haagen-Dazs and season three of 'Sex and the City'"
- "Man, do I love me some 'taters"
- "It was so hot in Central Park today, I saw a squirrel rubbing sunblock on his nuts"
- "You seemed a little pitchy, dawg"
- "Brody Jenner has added you as a friend on Facebook"
- "Live from New York...it's Saturday Night Live"
- "My parents wanted me to be a rabbi"
- "All the slammin' shorties in the house say 'Yeah!'"
methodshop
7/09/2009
All it takes is one person... to start a party [video]
Feel like dancing? Are you alone? Who cares. Remember, it just takes one person to start a party.This video above was shot at the Sasquatch 2009 Music Festival. The song is called "Me+Yr Daughter" by a great band called Natalie Portman's Shaved Head.
Who is the dancing guy? Good question. People who witnessed the spontaneous Sasquatch dance circle only knew him as Collin from Canada.
Hat tip to Reuben Miller for sharing the clip with us on StumbleUpon.
methodshop
7/08/2009
United Airlines Breaks Guitars [video]
In the spring of 2008, musician Dave Carroll and other passengers watched from the plane as clutzy United Airlines baggage handlers in Chicago broke his $3500 Taylor acoustic guitar on the tarmac.
After the incident, Carroll contacted the airline to ask for compensation. For the next few months, Carroll was given the runaround until United Airlines finally said they wouldn't pay for the damages. Before hanging up the phone for the last time with United Airlines, Carroll made a promise.
"I promised the last person [from United Airlines] to finally say no to compensation, Ms. Irlweg, that I would write and produce three songs about my experience with United Airlines and make videos for each to be viewed online by anyone in the world," Carroll said on his website.
It's been almost a year since Carroll's Taylor guitar was smashed on the tarmac, but he's finally making good on his promise. This week, Carroll uploaded a song he recorded with his band Sons of Maxwell to YouTube. It's called "United Breaks Guitars."
Here are a few lyrics from the chorus:
United, United
You broke my Taylor guitar
United, United
Some big help you are
You broke it, you should fix it
You're liable just admit it
I should have flown with someone else or gone by car
'Cause United breaks guitars
Unfortunately for United Airlines, the music video and the story behind it has caught the attention of the Internets. "United Breaks Guitars" is currently the top link on Reddit.com and Carroll's song has prompted an onslaught of negative comments about United Airlines across the Internet from Twitter to YouTube. Our favorite so far is "Revenge is a dish best served with country accompaniment."
Doesn't United Airlines know that the customer is always right? The amount of money and time United Airlines will have to spend dealing with this PR nightmare will far exceed $3500.
methodshop
Labels: music, social networking, video
7/07/2009
Amazing Feet Guitar Player [video]
Here's your inspiration for today. Tony Melendez was born in Nicaragua without any arms. At age 16, he started to learn the guitar. People told him it couldn't be done. As you can see from this YouTube video, not only can Tony strum the guitar, he can play chords with his toes and even sing.
On September 15, 1987, he played "Never Be The Same" for Pope John Paul II. The Pope called him a "gift of hope."
Big thanks to @holidaymatinee for sharing the clip with us on Facebook. We wonder if @WaltRibeiro will be adding foot guitar to his online classes anytime soon.
methodshop
6/30/2009
Teen Throws Temper Tantrum After Mom Cancels World Of Warcraft Account [video]
What's the worst part about being a teenager? Acne? Bullies? Awkward growth spurts? What about having your mom cancel your World of Warcraft account? Then what if your little brother secretly records your resulting teenage temper tantrum and posts it on YouTube?We're not kidding. After learning his account was canceled, the teenager writhes around in such angry fury that his clothes come off. He also proceeds to beat himself in the face with his own shoe and aimlessly walk in and out of a closet. If you checkout wafflepwn's YouTube channel, you'll see his brother has a tendency to overreact and they've been discretely filming his teen tantrums for years.
Enjoy your summer kid. The Warcraft Temper Tantrum video is a huge viral hit. Your first day back at school in September is going to be a little Besharded.
methodshop
6/18/2009
How to Tweet Video Clips on Twitter Using BubbleTweet
Can't fully express yourself with Twitter's 140-character limit? It can be tough. And sometimes plain text just isn't enough. Luckily services like TwitPic and Ping.fm allow us to embed picture links in our tweets. But what about video? There are actually a few services helping bring video to Twitter and BubbleTweet is one of the best.A "BubbleTweet" is a short video clip that plays in a"bubble video player" that floats on top of your Twitter page. That's right. When one of your Twitter followers clicks on your BubbleTweet URL, the video clip plays on top of your Twitter page. Then, when the video is done playing, the player "pops" and goes away. It's simple, easy to use and just plain fun.
Besides a Twitter account, all you need to start BubbleTweeting is an existing video clip or a webcam. Ready to make your first BubbleTweet? The tutorial link below will walk you through the process step-by-step.
Tutorial: How to tweet video clips on Twitter using BubbleTweet
methodshop
Labels: internet, social networking, tutorial, video
6/11/2009
Texas Cop Tasers 72-Year-Old Grandmother [video]
Think old people tend to get away with everything? Maybe, but not in Texas. On May 11, Kathryn Winkfein was pulled over in Austin by Travis County Constable Deputy Chris Bieze for speeding. The 72-year-old great-grandmother was allegedly driving 60 mph in a 45 mph speed zone.
The officer's dashboard camera caught the entire incident on tape. During the traffic stop, Winkfein can be heard arguing with the officer and refusing to sign the speeding ticket. The grandmother then dares the officer to shoot her with the taser as she tries to get back into her car. That's when the officer fired the taser to subdue the grandmother and bring the situation under control. Take that Grandma!
The video was released to refute statements by Winkein that she had done nothing to provoke being tasered by police. And guess what? The video has become an Internet sensation. It's tough to resist clicking on a link that says Texas Cop Tasers 72-Year-Old Grandmother [video].
Did the officer go too far? Or did Grandma need a little zap? Drop a comment below.
And if you're still in the tasering mood, here's a clip of someone getting tasered on an episode of Chris Hansen's Dateline NBC: To Catch a Predator.
methodshop
Labels: video
5/21/2009
Astronauts’ Drink of Choice: Urine
How to you celebrate the installation of a wastewater recycling system? How about with a bag of recycled urine water? This week 3 astronauts aboard the International Space Station drank their own urine [video], officially testing the facility’s Urine Processing Assembly.NASA has been working on a urine recycling system for years. The system is a vital part of NASA's plan to put astronaut outposts on the moon and Mars. The water recycler will also help budget strapped space mission budgets by reducing the amount of water shipped into space by Russian resupply ships.
While demonstrating the new system for the press, U.S. astronaut Michael Barratt joked "We have these highly attractive labels on our water bags that essentially say 'brought to you by ECLSS,' and 'drink when real water is over 200 miles away.'"
So how does this new $250 million dollar wastewater recycling system work? The system takes the crew's urine from the toilets and pumps it into a big tank where the water is boiled and water vapor collected.
Yummy!
methodshop
5/15/2009
Tornado Chaser FAIL [video]
It takes a lot of guts to be a Tornado Chaser. But it also takes a lot of smarts. Most "Tornado Chasers" are scientists or meteorologists who are chasing Tornadoes to gather scientific data and are pretty good about keeping a safe distance from their subjects... this guy, not so much.
"At first I got within a hundred yards and that was enough, but it was hard to judge its movement and later it caught up to me and passed over the car! This was in Novinger Missouri around 5:50pm 13 MAY 2009. I shouldn't have followed that cop to pull over...I didn't see behind me how close it was and it was too late."
The camera work is a little shaky, but he was driving 100 MPH in the rain with a camera in his hand and a tornado on his ass. Who knows, maybe this amateur Tornado Chaser has a death wish. As you might imagine, the clip is spreading like wildfire on the Internets.
WARNING: Kids, don't try this at home.
methodshop
5/14/2009
Recession + Recipe = Recessipe [video]
You can’t entirely cut food from your budget, but you can cut back by making lost-cost themed meals and being frugral with your shopping list.Could you feed 4 people with just $30? DownsizeNYC puts a former high paid Lehman Brothers trader to the test [video].
methodshop
Labels: video
5/12/2009
BriTunes - Brian Williams Interviews Deer Tick for New Online Music Show
Wow. Who knew NBC Nightly News anchor, Brian Williams, was so hip? On Monday, the American newscaster launched a new web-only video interview series focusing on independent music and musicians called "BriTunes."
The debuted episode of BriTunes is an interview with a band called Deer Tick from Brooklyn, NY. If you aren't already familiar with Deer Tick, their name might sound familiar. Rolling Stone called Deer Tick the No. 1 breaking band at SXSW 2009. Williams invited all four members of Deer Tick, John J. McCauley III, Christopher Dale Ryan, Dennis Ryan and Andrew Tobiassen, to a conference room at NBC's 30 Rockefeller Plaza headquarters for the interview.
According to this quote from the BriTunes homepage, Williams wants to keep the focus of BriTunes on independent musicians and up-and-coming artists.
"Okay, so I didn't name this thing, but I did come up with the idea. I have always loved identifying good music and good groups -- discovering them early (bar bands are best) and following them through their journey. While we'll interview some established musicians, mostly I'd like this to be a place where people can sample some of the great music being created every day, by talented musicians who wouldn't dream of doing anything else." --Brian Williams
methodshop
5/05/2009
How to Download YouTube Videos
Want to download a video from YouTube? There are a ton of reasons why you'd want to save the file locally on your computer. Maybe you need to embed the video in a PowerPoint presentation, watch it on your iPod or even edit it in a video project. There's only one problem: YouTube doesn't allow you download their videos. Why? They want you to come to their site and be exposed to the adverting.Even though YouTube doesn't make it easy, you can still download their videos if you know a few tricks. Here's a step-by-step MethodShop.com tutorial on how to download video files off YouTube.com and convert them for an iPod or iPhone.
TUTORIAL: How to Copy Files Off YouTube and Convert them for your iPod, iPhone, or Apple TV.
This trick will work on Mac or PC using Firefox or Internet Explorer.
methodshop
5/02/2009
Spy Cameras (for non-CIA agents)
Interested in getting your hands on some slick Bond-style spy equipment without spending a mint, or working at the 'Company' (a.k.a the CIA)? Rejoice because advances in technology have made camera & video technology much cheaper and much smaller.
A perfect case in point is this stylish surveillance camera watch that hides the lens in the number '2' on watch face. This watch records at a respectable 15 FPS (frames per second) with a 352×288 resolution in AVI format and saves it onto its 2GB internal memory.
Not too shabby, right? And less than $200. There are way more such spy camera equipment embedded in some crazy devices. Of course, the downside to all of this is that it is now way easier for anyone to invade your privacy or catch you in the act of making our occasional mistake.
methodshop
A perfect case in point is this stylish surveillance camera watch that hides the lens in the number '2' on watch face. This watch records at a respectable 15 FPS (frames per second) with a 352×288 resolution in AVI format and saves it onto its 2GB internal memory.
Not too shabby, right? And less than $200. There are way more such spy camera equipment embedded in some crazy devices. Of course, the downside to all of this is that it is now way easier for anyone to invade your privacy or catch you in the act of making our occasional mistake.
methodshop
4/21/2009
Domino's Response: Fighting a Social Media Nightmare with Social Media
What should a major fast food chain, like Domino's Pizza, do when two employees create a PR nightmare by posting videos of themselves tampering with customer's food on YouTube?A few years ago, the typical corporate response might have been to pull the videos off the Internets, hide their heads in the sand like an ostrich and wait for the PR storm to pass.
But like fighting fire with fire, Domino's smartly chose to fight their social media nightmare using social media. Patrick Doyle, president of Domino's USA, quickly posted a video response to the "Disgusting Domino's Pizza Employees" video on YouTube and setup a Twitter account (@dpzinfo) to answer questions from concerned customers. As a result, Domino's is being praised for their actions and might be able to spin this public relations disaster into something slightly positive.
The "Disgusting Domino's Pizza Employees" videos had already spread across the Internet like wildfire and there was no way the company would have been able to pull all the videos and contain the damage. The videos, filmed at a Conover, NC Domino's Pizza, had already been embedded on thousands of blogs (including methodshop.com) and social networking profile pages. Confronting the problem with honesty and speaking directly to the public using social media was a very wise decision.
Hopefully Domino's sales won't be too bad. But we wouldn't expect customers to flock back to the local Conover, NC location anytime soon.
methodshop
Labels: internet, social networking, video
4/17/2009
VHS to DVD converters - a round-up
Do you have a bunch of VHS tapes sitting on a shelf gathering dust, but you're not about to toss them out because you spent a bunch of money on them, love the movies, but aren't ready to spend more money to replace them with DVDs?Well convert 'em! Gizmos for Geeks put together a quick round-up of a few products that will help you convert your VHS paperweights to DVDs. For starters, companies like Panasonic have VHS/DVD combo player-recorders that are the simplest to use, but are the most expensive of the bunch.
The other solutions are software/hardware combos that can not only convert VHS tapes but pretty much any video source to a variety of digital formats. The Honestech VHS to DVD (which does not have the best name) can convert practically any analog source you can feed into its converter box, and has some very nice software to manage the process as well.
If you have more than 5 to 10 tapes, then it quickly becomes worth it to spend a bit of money on one of these up front and not $10+ on each of the DVD replacements.
You can read the whole article here.
methodshop
4/15/2009
Disgusting Domino's Pizza Employees [video]
Want to generate a ton of bad press for your company and get yourself fired before the end of the day? Yes?! Then there's a lot that can be learned from these two Domino's Pizza employees from Conover, North Carolina.The Domino's workers posted a video on YouTube of themselves blowing boogers and farting on customer's food. YouTube users were so disgusted, they not only posted thousands of comments on the video, but tracked down which Domino's Pizza store the video was made and complained to Domino's corporate office. As a result, the two employees in this video were fired only hours after posting the video on YouTube. They claim the video was only a joke and the food wasn't served. If you rather not take your chances, you might want to avoid this Domino's Pizza location until further notice:
Domino's Pizza
509 10th St Nw
Conover, NC 28613
USA
Yuck! If YouTube takes the video down, you can watch it here at this alternate location online.So what do the big shots at Domino's Pizza's corporate headquarters think about all this extra attention they've been getting online? According to this video response on YouTube by Patrick Doyle, president of Domino's USA, everyone in the Domino's family is "sickened" by the actions of these two employees. In the video Doyle goes on to apologize for the incident, assures customers that the Conover, N.C. restaurant where the videos were filmed is being sanitized and describes the steps his company is taking to ensure such an incident doesn't happen again.
methodshop
4/07/2009
Flutter - The New Twitter
Don't have time to Twitter? Do you dread composing lengthy 140 characters tweets? Who doesn't. Move over Twitter, here comes Flutter to the rescue.Flutter messages, or flaps (like a hummingbird's wing) are limited to only 26 characters. One full English alphabet is the maximum flap. Seriously, if you can't express your thoughts in a full English alphabet then you might want to take some lessons in brevity from @TheMime.
Flutter can also import messages from other social networking sites, like Twitter, Facebook and MySpace, and automatically shorten them to 26 character flaps. For example, lets say your friend Tweets this "working on some new designs for the album cover and watching project runway in my underwear lol!" Flutter would automatically shorten this message to say "wrking 4 project underwear."
By the way, we're just kidding. The Flutter video is a mockumentary about a fictional company called Flutter that wants to take microblogging to the next level. Enjoy.
methodshop
Labels: internet, social networking, video
3/30/2009
Honk! Honk! Die! - Goose Attack [video]
A fishermen and his dog thought they had found a nice quiet place to park their boat and cast their reel. But apparently the spot was already claimed by a crazy Canadian goose with a major bias towards Yellow Labrador Retrievers.Moments after pulling into their quiet fishing spot, the psycho goose jumps into the boat and starts attacking. In an attempt to save his dog, the fisherman places the goose on a nearby dock. But then the goose just jumps back into the boat and resumes his dog attack.
In just 2 minutes, the fisherman has to forcefully remove the goose 7 times from his boat. Unfortunately the poor dog gets the brunt of the bullying. Realizing that the goose won't stop attacking his dog, the fisherman has to flee the area and floors his boat in order to outrun their feathered attacker.
A video of the incident has already become a hit on YouTube and was even featured on the American TV show Inside Edition.
methodshop
3/23/2009
Rapping Flight Attendant [video]
After working 5 flights in one day, this Southwest Airlines flight attendant can't bare to recite the same boring passenger announcement one more time. So he raps it. Here's the video clip.
If you want to download this clip and convert for your iPhone, iPod or Apple TV, then check out this tutorial: How to Copy Videos Off YouTube.
methodshop
If you want to download this clip and convert for your iPhone, iPod or Apple TV, then check out this tutorial: How to Copy Videos Off YouTube.
methodshop
3/16/2009
How to Fix Boxee Black Screen Error on Apple TV
Is your Apple TV freezing when you launch Boxee? Do you see a quick flash of the Apple logo and then just a blank "black screen"?You aren't alone. If you were one of the early Boxee beta/alpha testers, you might have some files leftover from an old install. Don't even bother reinstalling Boxee or trying a factory restore on your Apple TV. These won't solve your Boxee problems. You need to remove the old user data files using a SSH client.
In this tutorial, we will walk you through the steps to remove these old files and return your Boxee software to normal functionality on your Apple TV.
methodshop
3/10/2009
Hulu Blocks Boxee... Again
The streaming video site Hulu and the streaming-video-on-your-TV service Boxee spent all of last weekend fighting. Again. In late February, Hulu asked Boxee to remove the special Hulu browser from the Boxee software. Boxee complied with Hulu's request, but Boxee users were very upset.Then last weekend, Boxee figured out a way around the Hulu issue. Boxee was able to reintegrate Hulu videos back into Boxee's software by creating a video RSS reader. Basically Boxee was just browsing Hulu's public RSS feeds which any web browser or RSS reader can do. This solution wasn't as flashy as the special Hulu application that Boxee had made, but it was a good work around until a formal deal could be worked out with Hulu.
Over the weekend, news quickly spread on Twitter that Boxee had reintegrated Hulu back into the Boxee software. Boxee users rejoiced but their celebration was short lived. Even though Boxee was only importing Hulu's public video RSS feeds, Hulu promptly blocked the Boxee RSS browser and displayed the following message: "This video is not currently available at this site, but you can view this and other Hulu videos at Hulu.com."
In response, Boxee released a statement on the company's blog:
"To our users: if you choose to use Boxee as your media browser to view legal and publicly available content on the Internet, we will do everything we can to ensure that you can access it, no matter what the source... while some of the best things in life are free, sometimes you have to work hard to get them."
Why is Hulu is putting so much effort into blocking Boxee? The only difference between Boxee and your web browser is that Boxee's browser is on your TV screen, rather than your computer screen.
However, there is a silver lining to this story for Boxee users. The new video RSS reader functionality that Boxee developed to reintegrate Hulu can be used to access other public RSS feeds. The next version of Boxee will most likely include the new RSS reader and a feature called "App Box" that will help simplify the addition of new in-house and third party applications.
Boxee hopes to have a new release ready before their New York City Boxee meetup on March 24.
Not sure what all this Boxee talk is all about? Boxee is a free open source cross-platform media center and entertainment hub that can play movies, TV shows, music and photos, as well as streaming content from websites like
Tutorial: How to Install Boxee on Your Apple TV
All you need to install Boxee on your Apple TV is a USB stick. If you own an Apple TV, then you need Boxee. Install Boxee and set your Apple TV free.
methodshop
3/09/2009
World's Fastest Undresser [video]
Here's an interesting video we found on YouTube. The clip is titled "World's Fastest Undresser" and looks like it's from a Japanese game show.
So how did he do it? YouTube user EclipseMoonXIV thinks they have it all figured out:
"he hooked his shirt over his foot, and then grabbed his pants. then, in pulling down his pants, his head went up. shirt was hooked on his foot, and went over his head and off his body."
Regardless of his method, this guy definitely has talent. Just not sure how often he'll get to use it. Anyone want to bet he's still single?
methodshop
2/26/2009
Man Calls 911 Over Lemonade Shortage [video]
What should you do when Burger King runs out of lemonade? Order something else or call 911? A Boynton Beach, Florida man decided that a lemonade shortage was serious enough to involve authorities and dialed 911.When police arrived on the scene, the Burger King cashier told the man that they didn't have lemonade. He became angry when he picked up his order and threatened to call police. The cashier told him to "Go ahead."
Here's a video clip of the 911 call from the CBS West Palm Beach station WPEC 12:
The officer noted in his incident report that the man could not explain why he resorted to calling 911 for a "civil dilemma."
methodshop
2/17/2009
Woman's Airport Temper Tantrum Becomes YouTube Sensation [video]
Ever miss a flight before? How did you handle it? Did you just take the next available flight or did you flip out and throw an adult temper tantrum at the boarding gate? If you chose the latter, then congratulations, you could be an Internet celebrity.
The video clip below is of a hysterical passenger screaming and writhing on the floor after missing a flight from Hong Kong to San Francisco. The three-minute clip is a YouTube sensation and has racked up over a million video views in less than 4 days.
The video starts with the screaming woman running towards the departure gate and bouncing off a female security guard, after she learned that the plane's doors had already closed.
She then starts banging a desk before collapsing to the floor and rolling around in tears.
Digg.com user Terencec translated the conversation the woman had with the airport gate staff from Cantonese to English:
"The plane hasn't even left yet so why is this happening... why is this happening."
"Don't worry, we will have another flight planned for you."
Maybe a friend of hers should recommend Prozac and leaving for the airport a little earlier.
methodshop
1/18/2009
Ninja Cat Fail
The original Ninja Cat video has earned an amazing 8 million views and 19,000 comments on YouTube in only 4 months. It's truly become an Internet sensation and was even featured in Andrew Bancroft's Digg Reel podcast. In the clip, a cat stealthy manages to approach the camera apparently without moving. Honestly, it's one of the best clips on YouTube.
However, one of the byproducts of success, is imitation. And unfortunately, the latest attempt to recreate the YouTube Internet sensation "Ninja Cat" resulted in the cat's owner being attacked. The clip is appropriately titled "Ninja Cat Fail." When you get owned by your own cat, is that considered reverse ownage?
If you want to download any of the Ninja Cat videos and convert them for your iPhone, iPod or Apple TV, then check out this tutorial: How to Copy Videos Off YouTube.
methodshop
12/29/2008
Hack Your Apple TV with Boxee
Buying iTunes season passes to a handful of shows like South Park, The Daily Show, Angel, Fringe, Battlestar Galactica, Friends and SNL will set you back hundreds of dollars. That's a hard wad of cash to swallow especially since you can watch all these shows for free streaming video websites like Hulu, WB and Comedy Central. The only problem is who wants to spend hours hunched over a computer for hours? It makes my back hurt just thinking about it. Wouldn't you rather sit on your couch and watch a full length movie on your big-ass HDTV?
Luckily for us, where Apple falls flat on its face with the Apple TV, Boxee comes to the rescue. Boxee is a free open source cross-platform media center and entertainment hub that can play movies, TV shows, music and photos, as well as streaming content from websites like Hulu, Netflix, CBS, Comedy Central, Last.fm, and flickr. Hell, the damn thing can even download free public torrents (Refer Madness anyone?!).Tutorial: How to Install Boxee on Your Apple TV
All you need to hack your Apple TV so it can use Boxee is a USB stick. If you own an Apple TV, then you need Boxee. Install Boxee and set your Apple TV free.
R2-D2 Chorus Line [video]
Looking for something to do with the R2-D2 robot you got for Christmas? What about making a Chorus Line like these guys on YouTube?Hopefully all of your friends are Star Wars Fanboys because you'll need quite a few R2-D2 Astromech Droids for this.
methodshop
12/11/2008
Plaxico Burress Gun Safety PSA
So why did Plaxico Burress carry a loaded handgun into a nightclub a few weeks ago? The embattled Giants wide receiver reportedly said; he did it because was wearing expensive jewelry and carrying a lot of cash.
Whatever his reasons were, do yourself a favor and stay away from Burress. Based on the Gun Safety PSA video below, Burress attracts bullets faster than Visanthe Shiancoe's tight end equipment attracts the lenses of FOX cameramen.
Here's the Plaxico Burress Gun Safety PSA video. Enjoy :)
And while you're wasting time online watching videos, you might want to check out this clip from SNL: Plaxico Burress' Tips for Gun Ownership
methodshop
12/02/2008
LG BD300 Network Blu-Ray DVD Player
If you want a new Blu-ray DVD player and are a Netflix subscriber, then the LG BD300 Network Blu-Ray Disc Player is exactly what you are looking for.LG's new BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc player is a full-featured DVD player that also gives you unlimited instant access to 12,000+ Netflix movies and TV episodes. All you need is a broadband internet connection and Netflix subscription.
With Full HD 1080p resolution and 1080p upscaling, this Blu-ray Disc player is the ultimate source for home entertainment.
Full Review: LG BD300 Network Blu-Ray Disc Player
The LG BD300 is part of the MethodShop.com Gadget Gift Guide. We've rounded up the best gadget gifts money can buy. There's something for everyone. From tiny stocking stuffers to $300 flashlights that can light a cigarette and a personal tank. We've hand-selected some of the most popular gadgets this holiday season and organized them into a little interactive shopping list.methodshop
11/23/2008
Heidi Klum Strips for Guitar Hero
Everyone wants to be a Guitar Hero, even supermodel Heidi Klum. But some people like Bill O'Reilly from Fox News have a problem with that.Klum is the latest celebrity to strip down and dance for a Guitar Hero commercial. In a parody of Tom Cruise's tighty-whitie dance from "Risky Business," Klum strums a guitar controller to the song "Old Time Rock and Roll" while sliding around in socks and squirming on a couch. Brett Ratner from the Rush Hour films directed the commercial.
What has Bill O'Reilly so miffed? Take a look. Here's the director's cut of the controversial Heidi Klum Guitar Hero commercial where she strips down to her underwear:
VIDEO: Director's Cut - GHWT Risky Business Heidi Klum
Bill O'Reilly thinks the ad is too sexy and doesn't think kids should watch it. But during the segment of his TV show where he's calling for it to be pulled from the airwaves, he plays the "controversial" commercial not once, but twice. There's another version of the "Risky Business" parody commercial featuring Kobe Bryant, Michael Phelps and A-Rod in their underwear. So far, Bill O'Reilly has yet to lodge a protest against this all male underwear threesome.
VIDEO: Bill O'Reilly Whines About Heidi Klum's Guitar Hero Commercial
The latest version of Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero World Tour is available now... just in time for Christmas.
methodshop
11/20/2008
Get Your Betty Ready [video]
It must be Sweeps time again because groomin' your private parts just went mainstream. KTLA, a local station in Los Angeles, recently did a news segment about the dying, waxing and shaping of female bikini lines. They called the segment "Getting Your Betty Ready."
VIDEO: Getting Your Betty Ready
Best quote: "Red and green... just in time for the holidays!"
methodshop
VIDEO: Getting Your Betty Ready
Best quote: "Red and green... just in time for the holidays!"
methodshop
11/17/2008
Watchmen: Trailer #3 [video]
Last Thursday, Warner Bros released a new trailer for Zack Snyder’s highly anticipated film Watchmen. The latest trailer (see below) gives viewers a better look at the gripping story behind Watchmen. Viewers are also able to hear some bits and pieces of dialogue from the actors and get a better feel for the film's style.The previous Watchmen trailer, set to the Smashing Pumpkins song "The End Is the Beginning Is the End," was absolutely amazing, but it was more of a music video than a trailer.
If watching the Watchmen on your small computer screen leaves you longing for more, this latest Watchmen trailer will also be attached to the new James Bong film Quantum of Solace which opened in U.S. theaters last weekend.
Zack Snyder's Watchmen movie, based on Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' Hugo award-winning graphic novel, premieres in U.S. theaters on March 6, 2009.
Video: Watchmen: Trailer #3
Hardcore fans might also want to check out the Watchmen movie posters and motion comics Warner Bros has released the past few months.
methodshop
10/30/2008
Amazing Japanese Fountain [video]
Sometimes the strangest innovations come out of Japan. For example, a subway pedestrian kickstand or Dasubee the Elephant Urinal Cleaner. But the video clip below from YouTube (Japan) is just amazing.The Canal City Mall has a water fountain that can display text and shapes using gravity and time released bursts of water. How soon until a few of these fountains show up in Vegas casinos?
If the video above fails to play, click here.
methodshop
Labels: advertising, video
10/20/2008
Scarlet Takes A Tumble [video]
The next time you get the urge to record yourself singing and dancing in your room, try to stay on the floor and do your best to avoid high heels and coffee tables.In the video below, 15-year-old YouTube user, PurpleBunny (aka Scarlet), is innocently recording herself singing in her room. The clip is a little long so here's the cheat sheet: About 2:00 minutes into the clip, Scarlet walks over to the corner and puts on a pair of high heels. At 2:15 she walks over to mom's 11-year-old coffee table and stands on it. At 2:50, prepare yourself... Scarlet Takes A Tumble. For the next 2 minutes Scarlet rolls around on the floor in pain. Whether or not you wince in pain, or laugh, is up to you.
Although her experience was obviously painful and embarrassing, she decided to post it on YouTube anyway. Scarlet's decision to share her video has made her a star worthy of a Weezer video cameo. In less than a week, the video titled "Scarlet Takes A Tumble" generated just under 1 million views.
Scarlet admits in a reaction video uploaded October 20th that "It was really not a smart thing to do... to stand on a coffee table. Children at home don't stand on your mom's furniture."
methodshop
Labels: video
9/28/2008
Tina Fey reprises her Sarah Palin role for #SNL Katie Couric Skit [video]
Saturday night, Tina Fey returned to the American sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live to reprise her widely hailed impersonation of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Fey, a former cast member and head writer of SNL, has been pulling double duty with these regular #SNL (Twitter search link) impersonations as Sarah Palin. She already has a full-time gig and stars in NBC's award winning series 30 Rock.Saturday night's opening skit of SNL mocks Palin's recent interview with CBS News' Katie Couric (played by Amy Poehler). When Couric (Poehler) pushes Palin (Fey) to specifically discuss how she would help facilitate democracy abroad, Fey gives in and says, "Katie, I'd like to use one of my lifelines. ... I want to phone a friend."
After unsuccessfully attempting to use a lifeline, Fey caves in and responds with an actual quote Sarah Palin said during the Couric interview, "Well, in that case, I'm just gonna have to get back to ya." Not exactly a statement of confidence you'd want to hear from someone who is a heartbeat away from being President of the United States. Here's a video clip of the SNL sketch.
If you haven't seen it yet, Katie Couric's interview with Governor Palin had viewers cringing as Palin stumbled through several key questions. In the embedded clip below, Couric presses Palin to explain why Alaska's proximity to Russia gives her foreign policy experience.
Palin doesn't seem to have improved her answer since she was first asked the same question by Charlie Gibson a few weeks ago. Hopefully the McCain campaign will help her prepare better for next time.
methodshop
Labels: video
9/24/2008
Twitter and #Current Team Up for Hack the Debate
Current.com and Twitter are teaming up for a U.S. Presidential Debate mash-up called "Hack The Debate."Current is streaming Friday night's debate online and will display Twitter messages (aka "tweets") over the live broadcast of the debate between John McCain and Barack Obama in real-time. This will allow viewers to comment live on what's being said during the debate and even fact check questionable statements made by the candidates.
How exactly will "Hack the Debate" work? Twitter users who add the #current hash tag to their tweets will see their comments displayed as a "lower 3rd" graphic on the bottom on the screen. For example:
"This discussion about universal healthcare makes me want to pop some pills! #current"
Current says it will only edit out comments that fail to meet standards and practices thresholds. (ie: no 4 letter words.)
This is an excellent idea. People love seeing their Twitter tweets on-air (CNN's Rick Sanchez proved that during the hurricanes).
Barack Obama is currently the #1 person on Twitter with over 80,000 followers, so expect a heavy turnout of his Twitter supporters. John McCain's Twitter account has a little over 2k.
If you don't understand what all this Twitter and "tweet" stuff is all about, check out this tutorial: How to Explain Twitter to Your Grandma.
methodshop
Labels: social networking, tech news, video
8/20/2008
Hurricane Fay vs. Kite Surfer
When there's a hurricane or tropical storm warning, most people will either seek shelter or leave town. On the opposite end of the specturm there are the thrill seekers... like this poor guy.He obviously thought it might be a good idea to try to kite surf the winds of Hurricane Fay. As you can see in the video below, a strong gust of wind blows the kite surfer out of the water, across the sand, over the highway and into a brick wall. He basically got owned by a hurricane. Ouch!
News reports say he's listed in critical condition. Let's just hope he isn't permanently paralyzed. Here's the video in slow motion if you want to see it again.
A kite surfer preps his board in the calm North Sea.
methodshop
CinemaNow Adds Mac Support
CinemaNow, one of the oldest movie and TV show download sites, has inked a deal that will make its movie and TV show downloads playable on both PCs and Macs.
CinemaNow will now utilize Widevine Technologies' multi-format DRM solution to make their download-to-own movies viewable on Windows, Mac and Linux machines. Pay-per-view titles will also be streamable using Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox or Opera browsers.
CinemaNow's decision to go cross-platform could help the company wrestle market share away from Apple iTunes, which dominates the paid digital video business. Up to now, iTunes has been the only download service to sell major studio movie downloads playable on Apple computers and PCs.
methodshop
CinemaNow will now utilize Widevine Technologies' multi-format DRM solution to make their download-to-own movies viewable on Windows, Mac and Linux machines. Pay-per-view titles will also be streamable using Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox or Opera browsers.
CinemaNow's decision to go cross-platform could help the company wrestle market share away from Apple iTunes, which dominates the paid digital video business. Up to now, iTunes has been the only download service to sell major studio movie downloads playable on Apple computers and PCs.
methodshop
8/12/2008
Lunch Meeting - Jake and Amir
Jake and Amir is hugely popular online comedy series produced by CollegeHumor. The series stars two CollegeHumor co-workers, Jake Hurwitz and Amir Blumenfeld, who share the same cubicle at CollegeHumor's offices in New York City.In our favorite episode titled "Lunch Meeting," [see video below] Jake tries to have a serious meeting with Amir at work. However, Amir insists on ordering lunch before the meeting because he's more productive when he has food in him. In fact, Amir is so hungry, that he considers it a hunger emergency and dials 911. We won't give away the rest of the episode, just watch Lunch Meeting to see what Jake & Amir are all about.
The Lunch Meeting episode is a cult favorite and was even spoofed by the PopSiren girls at Revision3.
methodshop
Labels: video
7/31/2008
Le idiot
Here's a clip of a guy on the French version of the game show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." In the clip, the host asks the French contestant the following question:"What rotates around the Earth? The Sun, Moon, Mars or Venus?" Easy question right? Not if you are French.
If the video above doesn't load, you can view it here or here.
methodshop
Labels: video
6/17/2008
Distracted Kid in Call of Duty 4 [video]
A player in the video game Call of Duty 4 apparently got a little distracted while playing a multiplayer deathmatch online. Unfortunately another player recorded the incident and posted it on YouTube. The clip has quickly become popular with gamers and even made the frontpage of Digg.com this morning.In the clip, a player named "ELGuerrer0" is seen closely examining a semi-nude wall poster while an opponent walks up behind him and shoots him in the back of the head with a shotgun.
If ELGuerrer0 is reading this... Dude, that's what single player is for.
methodshop
5/27/2008
The Candle Experiment
What happens when you balance a candle between two wine glasses and light the ends at different times? Science!"The Candle Experiment" is latest video from the Neistat Brothers (you might remember them from the infamous "The iPod's Dirty Secret" video).
methodshop
Labels: video
5/23/2008
New Weezer Video Features YouTube Celebs
Weezer posted their new music video called "Pork and Beans" on YouTube. The video features a huge collection of "internet stars" from Tay "Chocolate Rain" Zonday to Chris "Leave Britney Alone" Crocker. Weezer even plays in front of a huge deluge tribute to "Coke + Mentos".Weezer's new self-titled "Red Album" comes out June 3rd, 2008.
Here are all the YouTube parody clips we recognized in "Pork and Beans":
- Chocolate Rain
- Afro Ninja
- Star Wars Kid
- Numa Numa
- Daft Hands
- G.I. Joe PSAs
- Clip Bandits
- Miss North Carolina
- Leave Britney Alone
- Diet Coke + Mentos
- Dramatic Look Hamster
- All Your Base Belong to Us
- Charlie the Unicorn
- Will It Blend? - Pork and Beans
Did we miss any?
methodshop
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