You gotta love Improv Everywhere. Their mission in life? To create scenes. Not so much the candid camera "ha! We totally had you messing your drawers" type of scenes, but more the "weird! what was that all about?" type scenes. I like that. It gives folks who have witnessed one of their 'missions' amusing anecdotes to share.
Their missions are many and varied and are always a fun view or read. If you've traipsed around the internet video sites long enough you've undoubtedly seen something of theirs. The annual New York Subway 'No Pants Day' is one of their brainchilds. What started out a few years ago as just a handful of 'agents' baffling the morning commuters by riding the train in their underwear for no good reason and having no idea why those other people were coincidentally riding sans-pants has now exploded into thousands of participants making it a major annual event.
For their latest mission they've scaled things back to something simple and fun for morning commuters. It's nice, feel good missions like this that are the very essence of Improv Everywhere.
And if you're not caught up on their past missions you will find them all at the Improv Everywhere website. Some are so good they'll make you cry tears of joy.
Oh, I almost forgot. For those of you who are also extraverts, Improv Everywhere has created a site for you to organise similar missions in your own part of the world. Check out Urban Prankster.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
The Deity Returns!
The same very fine folks behind cult internet comedy Mr. Deity have started a new project titled: Words. Starting us off with familiar comedic ground to introduce the characters, we're treated to a somewhat provocative argument being made for the case against descrimination - of people who can hear! Can't wait to see what the gang have in store for us with this new show.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Science Part. 1
Yawn, right?
Science is dull, dull, dull.
You can't make the Periodic Table of Elements fun, I don't care how much clown makeup you slap on it.
Or can you...?
Okay, sorry I used that clichéd device. I hate myself for it almost as much as you do right now. I promise it won't happen again.
Or will it...?
I'm not too proud to go on record as saying "science is hard." I don't have a head for it but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate it. Why does it have to be so effing hard? Probably because it seeks to quantify how everything in existence actually works. You try explaining precisely why the sun is hot and just how hot is it and see how much accurate detail you can get with laymans terms and a slide rule.
If you're one of those people who hate science with a passion bordering on "Quit Dry-Humping My Leg, Bitch" then you are not alone. Plenty of fruit loops think the world is going to hell in a hand-beaker owing to science and its all-consuming hunger for advancing the quality of life.
Science has given us medicine. So now ignorant a-holes who otherwise wouldn't have lived long enough to complain about how unnatural chemicals are can protest the devastating effect H2O is having on our embattled planet.
It has given us power. So a-holes can boot up their computers and whine online about how it used to be so much better back in the days when wearing filth for weeks at a time was all the rage.
It has given us computers and the internet. So a-holes with computers and internet access can whine about antiscience a-holes who think we would be so much better off living with famine, disease, unsolved murders, warm beer, radios that don't do squat, guns in briefcases on airplanes, the earth being flat, and Steven Spielberg out of a job.
F*ckers.
But can you blame them for their ignorance? In the past Science education managed to do more harm than good. Remember how excited you and your mates would get at the prospect of watching yet another science program detailing all the hip experiments you could do in class?
Me neither.
To jog your memory, they go a little something like this.
But isn't Science also capable of great evil? Like those scientists trying their darnedest to destroy the planet with a Large Hadron Collider, say for example?
In short: nope. Science as a principle isn't evil at all. You might get the odd individual who is capable of evil and chooses to weild knowledge gleaned by science in an inappropriate manner. Like, say, an extremist with a dirty bomb wandering downtown Manhattan. But for the most part the purpose of Science is the persuit of knowledge. And knowlege gives us answers to questions, which helps us solve problems. Problems like: What is the best way to squander billions of dollars in an effort to suck the world as we know it into a black hole?
Actually, that's not what science is trying to do with the LHC and I think you'll find that those doomsday predictions are only being touted by people who are entirely ignorant of the science involved - suprise, surprise.
Just what is the LHC really doing then? Apart from cutting record deals? A good place to get the lowdown is here. If you're curious.
Otherwise just sit back, crack open your favorite beer, and wait for it all to end.
Science is dull, dull, dull.
You can't make the Periodic Table of Elements fun, I don't care how much clown makeup you slap on it.
Or can you...?
Okay, sorry I used that clichéd device. I hate myself for it almost as much as you do right now. I promise it won't happen again.
Or will it...?
I'm not too proud to go on record as saying "science is hard." I don't have a head for it but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate it. Why does it have to be so effing hard? Probably because it seeks to quantify how everything in existence actually works. You try explaining precisely why the sun is hot and just how hot is it and see how much accurate detail you can get with laymans terms and a slide rule.
If you're one of those people who hate science with a passion bordering on "Quit Dry-Humping My Leg, Bitch" then you are not alone. Plenty of fruit loops think the world is going to hell in a hand-beaker owing to science and its all-consuming hunger for advancing the quality of life.
Science has given us medicine. So now ignorant a-holes who otherwise wouldn't have lived long enough to complain about how unnatural chemicals are can protest the devastating effect H2O is having on our embattled planet.
It has given us power. So a-holes can boot up their computers and whine online about how it used to be so much better back in the days when wearing filth for weeks at a time was all the rage.
It has given us computers and the internet. So a-holes with computers and internet access can whine about antiscience a-holes who think we would be so much better off living with famine, disease, unsolved murders, warm beer, radios that don't do squat, guns in briefcases on airplanes, the earth being flat, and Steven Spielberg out of a job.
F*ckers.
But can you blame them for their ignorance? In the past Science education managed to do more harm than good. Remember how excited you and your mates would get at the prospect of watching yet another science program detailing all the hip experiments you could do in class?
Me neither.
To jog your memory, they go a little something like this.
But isn't Science also capable of great evil? Like those scientists trying their darnedest to destroy the planet with a Large Hadron Collider, say for example?
In short: nope. Science as a principle isn't evil at all. You might get the odd individual who is capable of evil and chooses to weild knowledge gleaned by science in an inappropriate manner. Like, say, an extremist with a dirty bomb wandering downtown Manhattan. But for the most part the purpose of Science is the persuit of knowledge. And knowlege gives us answers to questions, which helps us solve problems. Problems like: What is the best way to squander billions of dollars in an effort to suck the world as we know it into a black hole?
Actually, that's not what science is trying to do with the LHC and I think you'll find that those doomsday predictions are only being touted by people who are entirely ignorant of the science involved - suprise, surprise.
Just what is the LHC really doing then? Apart from cutting record deals? A good place to get the lowdown is here. If you're curious.
Otherwise just sit back, crack open your favorite beer, and wait for it all to end.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Skippy: A Friend Ever True
Crikey! Is it time to showcase some home grown Aussie humor again?
Must be. So lets talk kangaroos.
Having been born in Australia it makes perfect sense that I would have known a kangaroo or two in my time. Of all the 'roos I've known (more than you can count on one paw) there's one in particular that stands out. That kangaroo is, of course, Skippy.
Skippy the bush kangaroo.
Bush kangaroos are a different breed to your everyday urban variety. For starters they're bloody clueless when it comes to dealing with traffic, lack all the niceties of dinner table etiquette, and if perchance some task requires of them a little fashion sense - well, you can forget about it. But don't make the mistake of writing bush kangas off as complete imbeciles just yet. They can still be resourceful little buggers!
In many ways Skippy is to Australia what Flipper is to America or Doctor Who is to Great Britain, or the Tunguska event is to Russia. Whether it's saving missing children who ill-advisedly go bungee jumping down wells, cleaning up oil spills at sea, saving us from the latest Dalek masterplan to conquer the universe, or matchsticking kilometers of former Soviet Republic real-estate; no job is too big an ask for our be-pouched hero.
Which brings us, inevitably, to THE BIG QUESTION:
Whose arse could Skippy kick?
(NOTE: Being Australian, Skippy has no capacity to kick ass. Only arse.)
In no particular order: Willie Ames, Jean Reno, Shakespeare, Dracula, MacGuyver, Simon & Schuster, Brooke Brodack, Steamboat Willie, Helium, Optimus Prime, Malignant Melanoma, The Wiggles, Stuart Little, Zuul, K C & The Sunshine Band, every last stinking Anti-vaxxer, The Bismark, Marky Mark, The Battle of Waterloo, the combined cast of Dawson's Creek, Shetland, and the red paperclip guy.
We would like to have gauged how well a Skippy vs. Chuck Norris deathmatch would have turned out, believe me, but we had trouble finding Chuck. I guess we may never know.
It just occurred to me, some of you have yet to be introduced to the talents of our national treasure. For your edification:
Okay. Maybe Skippy really isn't all that. In fact, I'm starting to come down off the whole Skippy is the shiz head trip. Know what? Screw that giant hopping rodent! What has Skip done for us lately? Bludging, boozing, cooz-hound he is!
Brings back memories of another show don't it! You know the one. Where they'd make fun of bad shows. I think it was called MST3- ...err, Bargearse!
Sorry. We seem to have gone off on one of those 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon tangent thing-a-majigs and I just can't help myself. I demand a second helping!
Hell, I'd post all the Bargearse eps if it wouldn't make me appear so bloomin' self-indulgent. If you're as tickled as I am then I'm afraid you're going to have to hunt them down for yourself. I'm guessing it'll take you all of oh, say, 12 seconds.
So. Yeah. Uh... Kangaroos. Whatever point I was making I can say with unshakable confidence that I think I proved it. Nerr.
Must be. So lets talk kangaroos.
Having been born in Australia it makes perfect sense that I would have known a kangaroo or two in my time. Of all the 'roos I've known (more than you can count on one paw) there's one in particular that stands out. That kangaroo is, of course, Skippy.
Skippy the bush kangaroo.
Bush kangaroos are a different breed to your everyday urban variety. For starters they're bloody clueless when it comes to dealing with traffic, lack all the niceties of dinner table etiquette, and if perchance some task requires of them a little fashion sense - well, you can forget about it. But don't make the mistake of writing bush kangas off as complete imbeciles just yet. They can still be resourceful little buggers!
In many ways Skippy is to Australia what Flipper is to America or Doctor Who is to Great Britain, or the Tunguska event is to Russia. Whether it's saving missing children who ill-advisedly go bungee jumping down wells, cleaning up oil spills at sea, saving us from the latest Dalek masterplan to conquer the universe, or matchsticking kilometers of former Soviet Republic real-estate; no job is too big an ask for our be-pouched hero.
Which brings us, inevitably, to THE BIG QUESTION:
Whose arse could Skippy kick?
(NOTE: Being Australian, Skippy has no capacity to kick ass. Only arse.)
In no particular order: Willie Ames, Jean Reno, Shakespeare, Dracula, MacGuyver, Simon & Schuster, Brooke Brodack, Steamboat Willie, Helium, Optimus Prime, Malignant Melanoma, The Wiggles, Stuart Little, Zuul, K C & The Sunshine Band, every last stinking Anti-vaxxer, The Bismark, Marky Mark, The Battle of Waterloo, the combined cast of Dawson's Creek, Shetland, and the red paperclip guy.
We would like to have gauged how well a Skippy vs. Chuck Norris deathmatch would have turned out, believe me, but we had trouble finding Chuck. I guess we may never know.
It just occurred to me, some of you have yet to be introduced to the talents of our national treasure. For your edification:
Okay. Maybe Skippy really isn't all that. In fact, I'm starting to come down off the whole Skippy is the shiz head trip. Know what? Screw that giant hopping rodent! What has Skip done for us lately? Bludging, boozing, cooz-hound he is!
Brings back memories of another show don't it! You know the one. Where they'd make fun of bad shows. I think it was called MST3- ...err, Bargearse!
Sorry. We seem to have gone off on one of those 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon tangent thing-a-majigs and I just can't help myself. I demand a second helping!
Hell, I'd post all the Bargearse eps if it wouldn't make me appear so bloomin' self-indulgent. If you're as tickled as I am then I'm afraid you're going to have to hunt them down for yourself. I'm guessing it'll take you all of oh, say, 12 seconds.
So. Yeah. Uh... Kangaroos. Whatever point I was making I can say with unshakable confidence that I think I proved it. Nerr.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Mash-up Fire Sale
Time for some more trailer shennannigans. I do love me these pretties so very, very much. A variety of talented folk put a lot of time and love into their crafting. If you go looking you'll find plenty of inferior content out there - their downfall is they have continuity that's all over the shop. You really have to work to believe in the premise of those trailers. Not so with these ones. Which is what makes them remarkable in my book and worthy of Levitude top honors.
Turn out the lights and slip into your scaredy pants for our first adventure because Mary is back and boy is she pissed!
You're okay. It's over. The nasty nanny is gone now. Relax. Deep breath in... and out... in... and now lets completely change tack. Maestro? College hi-jinks if you please!
Sinead O'Connor fans, represent!
The same geniuses who gave birth to that channeled lightning into this next monster. For those of you who haven't seen Glengarry Glen Ross beforehand, just know that this brilliantly repurposes the film. Go ahead and pause the blog if you'd like to check out the riveting original first. We'll wait.
WARNING THO: EXTREME LANGUAGE (and I do mean Extreme)
When I think unrestrained foul language I think of kids up to no good. And when I think of kids up to no good, I think Goonies. Which brings us to one of the greatest adventure movies of our time. My momma used to say "Clever is as clever does" and this trailer does clever quite... cleverly.
Finally, not really a trailer per-se but a re-imagined scene. An all-time favorite that I am proud to feature here so that I can watch it over and over and over at leisure. Ladies, Gentlemen, Sith Lords and Sith Ladies, I give you Darth Vader: Dick.
Turn out the lights and slip into your scaredy pants for our first adventure because Mary is back and boy is she pissed!
You're okay. It's over. The nasty nanny is gone now. Relax. Deep breath in... and out... in... and now lets completely change tack. Maestro? College hi-jinks if you please!
Sinead O'Connor fans, represent!
The same geniuses who gave birth to that channeled lightning into this next monster. For those of you who haven't seen Glengarry Glen Ross beforehand, just know that this brilliantly repurposes the film. Go ahead and pause the blog if you'd like to check out the riveting original first. We'll wait.
WARNING THO: EXTREME LANGUAGE (and I do mean Extreme)
When I think unrestrained foul language I think of kids up to no good. And when I think of kids up to no good, I think Goonies. Which brings us to one of the greatest adventure movies of our time. My momma used to say "Clever is as clever does" and this trailer does clever quite... cleverly.
Finally, not really a trailer per-se but a re-imagined scene. An all-time favorite that I am proud to feature here so that I can watch it over and over and over at leisure. Ladies, Gentlemen, Sith Lords and Sith Ladies, I give you Darth Vader: Dick.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Help A Starving Prince
Nigeria.
Sparkling jewel of Africa. Land of opportunity. Home to the riches of the gullible.
From here anything is possible, and often is!
Marco Polo once said of Nigeria: "Nigeria? Where's that?" Before turning his attention back to making up rules for the swimming pool game for which he is named.
Nigerians are a friendly bunch. If you've ever had the pleasure of trading emails with a Nigerian you no doubt learned they are a kind and generous people trying their best to struggle through so much oppressive economic red tape, and necessarily seeking foreign assistance in order to get their billions out of the country.
This is where you come in.
A pinch of compassion and you're on your way. You'll soon find yourself up to your spam filter in totally credible sob stories and too-good-to-be-false gold mine opportunitites. Why in the world would anyone ever bother working a regular 9 to 5 job when all it takes is a little up front cash for you to make an obscene return on your investment?
The fact is, a few small communities have sprung up to take full advantage of these offers and you won't believe what adventure stories they have to tell.
Governors, Clique Mobs, Fire Sticks, Anus Laptops - but I've said too much already. You simply must check it out for yourself.
Tip: you'll need to register on their forums to get to the marrow. Well worth it for the many hours worth of laughs.
Sparkling jewel of Africa. Land of opportunity. Home to the riches of the gullible.
From here anything is possible, and often is!
Marco Polo once said of Nigeria: "Nigeria? Where's that?" Before turning his attention back to making up rules for the swimming pool game for which he is named.
Nigerians are a friendly bunch. If you've ever had the pleasure of trading emails with a Nigerian you no doubt learned they are a kind and generous people trying their best to struggle through so much oppressive economic red tape, and necessarily seeking foreign assistance in order to get their billions out of the country.
This is where you come in.
A pinch of compassion and you're on your way. You'll soon find yourself up to your spam filter in totally credible sob stories and too-good-to-be-false gold mine opportunitites. Why in the world would anyone ever bother working a regular 9 to 5 job when all it takes is a little up front cash for you to make an obscene return on your investment?
The fact is, a few small communities have sprung up to take full advantage of these offers and you won't believe what adventure stories they have to tell.
Governors, Clique Mobs, Fire Sticks, Anus Laptops - but I've said too much already. You simply must check it out for yourself.
Tip: you'll need to register on their forums to get to the marrow. Well worth it for the many hours worth of laughs.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Lets Make Movies!
a. You're a Star Wars fan.
b. You're such a fan you don't just want to watch Star Wars. You want to be in Star Wars.
c. You resolve to make a fan film.
d. Most likely only Star Wars fans who have been thinking about making their own fan film are going to appreciate it.
e. Unless you happen to be Ryan Wieber and Michael "Dorkman" Scott, who understand that hokey dialogue and poor acting skills are what kills fan filmdom dead when all people really want to see is the coolest light saber duel ever.
f. But now the problem is you've created an internet phenomenon and the fans crave 'more'.
h. It's kept you so busy you've not been able to study up on your alphiebets in a long time.
17. Because you've been working hard on making RvD2 for the ravenous fans. With more special effects. More drama. An original score. And more all-round awesomeness in general.
xviii. You now officially rock and have a dedicated website to showcase all the hard work that went into building your rockfulness.
g. Hand them the keys, George.
b. You're such a fan you don't just want to watch Star Wars. You want to be in Star Wars.
c. You resolve to make a fan film.
d. Most likely only Star Wars fans who have been thinking about making their own fan film are going to appreciate it.
e. Unless you happen to be Ryan Wieber and Michael "Dorkman" Scott, who understand that hokey dialogue and poor acting skills are what kills fan filmdom dead when all people really want to see is the coolest light saber duel ever.
f. But now the problem is you've created an internet phenomenon and the fans crave 'more'.
h. It's kept you so busy you've not been able to study up on your alphiebets in a long time.
17. Because you've been working hard on making RvD2 for the ravenous fans. With more special effects. More drama. An original score. And more all-round awesomeness in general.
xviii. You now officially rock and have a dedicated website to showcase all the hard work that went into building your rockfulness.
g. Hand them the keys, George.
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