Whistle While you Twerk?
This is freaking catchy, yo.
Dinos
I woke up with this song stuck in my head for absolutely no apparent reason:
This is from the 1993 movie We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story. Did anyone else ever watch this? Remember how freaking dark it got about two-thirds of the way through?
Sorry, not much going on today.
MY EARS
WHAAAAAAAAAT THE HEEEEEEEEELL
Holy Jesus crackers, I love this.
Download for free from his SoundCloud!
The New Science
WHY HAVE I NEVER HEARD OF THIS GAME BEFORE??
From the site:
“In The New Science, you play the role of one of the great scientists from the scientific revolution in 17th century Europe. You are attempting to publish your remarkable scientific discoveries in order to gain prestige, be seen as the finest mind of your era, and consequently be appointed the first President of the Royal Society.”
And which great scientists can you play as?
LEIBNIZ!
ALSKFJASLDFJALGSLA
This looks really, really interesting. I need this game, yo.
(And a dorkfest of friends to play it with.)
Impossible Music
Specifically, a type of music called Black MIDI. Black MIDI is named as such because the idea is to include as many notes as possible into a short little arrangement. Making a score of such an arrangement would be such a befuddlement of notes and accidentals and other such things that the staff would be just a block of black ink—hence, Black MIDI.
Also, it would be physically impossible to play “by hand.”
Example of such a thing:
(Note: this may glitch out near the middle, depending on the speed of your compy)
It’s actually kind of cool-sounding, huh?
Binary!
I’m a really visual person. That’s how I learn best, by studying diagrams or remembering the processes of things. So seeing binary addition visually is really, really helpful to me. I wish I’d found this back when I first learned this—it probably would have been less confusing, haha.
How cool is that?
The Cowardly Average-Sized Toaster Oven is the Brave Little Toaster’s Forgotten Half-Brother
Woah, Coldplay. Woah.
Crank this up and sit in a dark room.
This reminds me of Muse’s Madness in the “this is by one of my favorite groups but doesn’t sound at all like them but it’s even more magnificent because of that” sense.
Apparently there are a lot of mixed feelings about this song, but I really like it. Give it a listen and decide for yourself.
Also: it’s Anosmia Awareness Day today! Go hug a non-smeller and check out this blog run by someone who has anosmia.
Remmus
I get to teach in the summer!!
And what’s better: it’s not the 7:30 AM section!!! It’s the totally reasonable and much more Claudia-friendly 11:30 AM section, which runs for two hours on M/T/W/Th and starts right after spring semester is done.
WOO!!!
I still don’t have any concrete plans past that point—which SUCKS and I hate it—but I’m glad that I at least get to teach in the summer.
Also, this:
Zounds
I haven’t given you any new music in 2014 yet, have I?
I’LL FIX IT!
(Waaaaaaaay better than the original)
Zz
So this video quality sucks because my camera—the thing I usually take video with—is out of batteries and all I’ve got is my iPod, but this is a shot of one of the fluorescent light tubes in my office.
I thiiiiiink it’s starting to die on me. But if it dies, it’s going out in style!
Internettin’
Haha, oh, Sound Cloud.
Do you remember this? DO YOU REMEMBER THE NIGHTMARES?!
I saw this video quite a few years ago and now this song always reminds me of Vancouver:
Another awesome Rage Quit I don’t think I’ve ever posted on here.
WHOA
I AM GOING TO PEE MY PANTS
LOOK AT THIS BEAUTIFUL THING
Midnight Planétarium from Van Cleef & Arpel’s Poetic Astronomy series.
One of the comments on the video: “In addition to telling time by way of a shooting star that rotates along the outmost area of the face, the watch more prominently features an accurate rotation and representation of the Earth and the five other planets visible from here around the sun—Mercury in 88 days, Venus in 224, Earth in a year, Mars in 687 days, Jupiter in 12 years and Saturn in 29. It’s a very complex watch and a true display of supreme watchmaking. But as complicated as the piece is—with 396 parts to the movement—it’s also beautiful.”
FREAKING
CRAP
I really need to get a book (or two) on watchmaking, ‘cause these things are becoming a bit of an obsession.
only capitalists capitalize
There are few things that are more hilarious than dubbed infomercials. These two are great.
The old lady at 1:05, oh my god.
Yes, I think the farting sound effects are funny. I’m an adult.
HULA!
I’ve reached the “everything is hilarious and nothing hurts” stage of sleep deprivation.
However, I can’t tell if this infomercial is hysterical because I haven’t slept or because it’s just so freaking absurd.
I laughed for like 15 minutes straight at this. And as often happens with a funny YouTube video, the comments section is just as great:
- Statistically, 79% of this galaxy’s species became extinct within 10 generations after inventing the Hawaii chair.
- Einstein had also a hawaii chair
- When you sit, you can get fit, while looking like a tit
- she looks like she’s spinning on a cock
- Thikljankds fojkrjr reachinfinfg outtt sennnnt irhjdf from mmmmqy yyy Hawaasii ii iii chaaasidsdiiirr
- Oh good, now I can simulate what having Parkinsons is like.
- Notice the spokesman has solid black eyes
- The one girl has her hands up at 0:14 like it’s some kind of god damn theme park ride lol
- what the fuck is a hula motor
- “that feels great on my abs” thats your balls mate
- boss : “write this neatly; don’t fuck it up!” you : ” can’t ”
- DEAR SANTA…
Wow.
PEGGLE!
Oops, I’m addicted to Peggle.
Thanks a lot, Achievement Hunter.
For those of you who don’t know what Peggle is, here’s the AH crew playing Peggle 2, which just came out. Peggle is quite similar, so if this looks fun, I recommend Peggle! You can get it from Steam.
United State of Pop 2013
Alright, so ever since I’ve started this “download a new song everyday” thing, I’ve made my the last download of the year be DJ Earworm’s United State of Pop mashup for that particular year.
I plan to do the same thing this year. However, this year’s mashup is so freaking good that I’ve decided to give it its own blog post. Behold!
2009’s mashup has been my favorite since it came out, but I honestly think this one’s better. The video’s pretty awesome, too.
My favorite parts are 2:03 (I love that chord, whatever that is) and everything past 4:20.
Some Songs
Today was weird.
Have some songs I can’t get out of my head.
TWSB: The Sounds of Sorting
This is easily one of the coolest videos I’ve ever found on YouTube.
(note: put your speakers at a lower volume; this seemed fairly loud to me.)
A sorting algorithm is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: it’s an algorithm that puts the elements of a list in a certain order (like in the video above, where the bars represent integers and the algorithms are putting the integers in order from smallest to largest).
There are a bunch of different types, depending on what’s most important to the individual using the algorithm: ease of coding, run time, stability, etc. For example, the bubble sort (4:01 in the vid) has a fairly short code, but has a long run time compared to something like a radix sort (1:56).
At 3:11 and 3:14, you hear Pac Man!
The algorithms used in this video are, in order: selection sort, insertion sort, quick sort, merge sort, heap sort, radix sort (LSD), radix sort (MSD), std::sort (intro sort), std::stable_sort (adaptive merge sort), shell sort, bubble sort, cocktail shaker sort, gnome sort, bitonic sort and bogo sort (30 seconds of it).
How cool is this??
Here is a little code “cheat sheet” by the creator of this video, Timo Bingmann. Check out his Sound of Sorting page!
(Seriously, I’ve watched this video about 20 times already. It gives me goosebumps!)
Welcome to the Internet
(Sorry, I had a mega migraine today and am very foggy. This vid is probably more coherent than anything I’d try to write here.)
I think we should rename Shoup Hall “Shoup da Whoop”
I’m so anxious I’m about to pee my pants. So you get a survey. A long one. Sorry.
1. What’s been the best day of your life so far?
It’s a tie between December 22, 2008 and July 25, 2009. That’s all the info you get.
2. Describe your best kiss, who was it with, what was it like, where was it etc.?
Oooh. This is private. Very, very special, but private.
3. What’s your biggest regret? I know we all say we don’t regret things but obviously it’s how we learn, from our mistakes. So what’s something from your past you wished you could have changed?
I regret not taking more of an initiative in figuring out what I wanted to do with my life when I was younger. I wish I’d had a plan when I started college.
4. When was the last time you laughed so hard that tears fell from your eyes and what was it at?
It’s still this.
5. What is the craziest thing that you have ever done?
Skydiving!
6. What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you?
Man, I can’t even pick.
7. Do you have any scars and if so, how did you get them?
I have lots and lots and lots of scars.
8. Where would you like to be in 10 years?
Uhhhh…somewhere where I’ve got a permanent job teaching stats. Or living in Antarctica. OR BOTH!
9. What are your views on drugs and alcohol?
They’re not for me, but whatever floats your boat as long as you’re not hurting others.
10. What are your views on religion?
See above.
11. Have you ever thought about ending your own life? If so, why?
We’re not going to go there tonight, okay?
12. Write 5 facts people might not know about you.
Oh jeez.
1. I’m not wearing pants right now.
2. I’m embarrassingly unilingual.
3. “Calendar” and “guarantee” are two words I can never spell correctly.
4. I’d be happy if I was even one inch taller.
5. I’m 100% okay with being single the rest of my life (’cause I’m pretty sure that’s how it’s going to go down), but that doesn’t stop me from bitching about it every once and awhile.
13. What’s your zodiac sign?
I’m an Aquarius!
14. Pinpoint a moment you felt the most satisfied with your life.
Oh man, I have no idea. I’ve never really felt satisfied with my life.
15. Discuss your first love.
The first one-sided love or the first mutual love? They are very different.
16. Put your ipod on shuffle and write 10 songs that pop up.
Fear – Sia
The Wrath of Marcie – The Go! Team
The Galaxy – Dethklok
Reasons – Thermostatic
Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger – Daft Punk
Sing Sang Sung – Air
Dancing Shoes – Dev
Us Against the World – Coldplay
Zero – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Take a Bow – Muse
17. Name somewhere you’d like to move or visit.
Antarctica!
18. What’s your earliest memory?
Uh…I remember the time I fell off the slide and got a concussion…not sure how old I was when that happened, though. I also remember taking a sheet of alphabet stickers and sticking them to EVERYTHING in the house. Not sure how old I was then, either.
19. What are your views on mainstream music?
Some of it’s good, some of it’s bad, just like all music.
20. What are your highs and lows of this past year?
Highs: calculus, teaching, figuring out I can graduate next spring, meeting a bunch of awesome dorks in my Linear Algebra and Proofs classes.
Lows: making a lot of dumb mistakes.
21. What are your strongest beliefs?
I believe in treating everyone with respect and dignity and in being nice to others. We’re all just human beings, guys. Hate is such a waste.
22. Who are you closest to in your family?
My mom, definitely. And my kitten, but she hates me, haha.
23. How important do you think education is?
VERY IMPORTANT!
24. What’s one of your favorite shows?
Metalocalypse. Especially now that we’re getting another season!
25. How have you changed in the past 2 years?
Uh…I’m older? I’d like to think I’m better at a few specific things, but that is highly unlikely.
26. Name 5 people who are famous who you find attractive.
If dead people count, Leibniz. And only Leibniz.
If not, then the whole AH crew. I don’t care that there are six of them. I mean, look at these dorks:
27. Name your favorite movie and what it’s about.
Sunshine! It’s about our sun dying and a team of astronauts being sent into space to restart it with a nuclear bomb. It sounds really, really dumb, but it’s actually FANTASTIC. Trust me, bros.
28. Who is someone who fascinates you and why?
Leibniz. How can you NOT be fascinated by him, seriously? He (co-)invented calculus, he improved on Pascal’s calculator, he refined the binary system, he had the wig of 1,000 gods…what more do you want?!
29. What kind of person attracts you?
People who aren’t jerks to everyone. I also find people who have one or two super strong obsessions/passions very attractive.
30. What’s a problem that you have recently had or are currently having?
Trying to figure out what’s next. It’s not really a problem per se (yet), but it’s still bothering me that I don’t have a set-in-stone plan for the next few years.
31. Name something that you miss.
My sanity.
32. Share 5 goals you want completed in the next 30 days.
What is today, the 21st of November? Hmm…
1. Survive finals week (and by “survive” I mean “get a 4.0”)
2. Get some super secret future-related stuff done
3, Hang out with all my friends from Proofs since I’m not going to have any classes with any of them next semester
4. Clean the basement?
5. Work on a writing project that I’ve been neglecting since…um…August.
33. What’s been the highlight of your month and the lowest point?
Highlight: doing well on the two exams I had this month
Lowest point: this week. It’s just been super busy and crazy and…difficult.
34. What’s something that you’ve done in the past that you would never do again?
Something that no one should ever, ever do. I got karmic backlash for it, and I deserved every bit of it.
35. What is your biggest insecurity? why?
Being me. Because I’m me.
36. What were the last 3 songs you listened to and what did they mean to you?
I…actually haven’t listened to any music today (shocker!) and I can’t remember what I listened to yesterday.
37. Do you have a toy that’s really special to you and if so what is it, how did you get it, etc.?
I don’t know if I have any actual *toy* toys left. None come to mind, at least.
38. Have you lost anyone close to you to death?
Both my grandpas, yes.
39. What is your purpose in life?
I WISH I KNEW
40. When was the last time you cried and what was it over?
I cried this morning ‘cause I’m in “let’s freak out about tests” mode. Pathetic? Yes.
41. If you got to spend an entire day with your favourite celebrity what would you guys do?
I don’t have a favorite celebrity.
42. If you could only listen to one artist for the rest of your life, who would you choose and why?
I’d say…Coldplay. Reason #1: Paradise. Reason #2: Us Against the World.
43. What are 3 personality traits that you like about yourself and what are three that you dislike about yourself?
Like: persistent, hard-working….nice?
Dislike: quick to anger, quick to frustration, overly obsessive.
44. Can you cook? If so what are your favorite dishes to make?
All I really make anymore are noodles.
45. What was the last decision you regretted making?
WHERE TO START?!
46. Who’s opinion of yourself do you value the most?
Probably my mom’s.
47. What’s the nastiest thing you’ve ever said to another human being and what drove you to say it?
Oh man, I have no idea. I try not to say nasty things to people. Though I do remember one particularly nasty fight I had with a friend in high school (which luckily only lasted like three days) during which I intimated that she’d been kicked off the cheerleading squad rather than just quitting. That doesn’t sound too bad, but the way I yelled it in front of the whole cafeteria was pretty bitchy of me.
48. What’s the nastiest thing anyone has ever said about YOU? Or something that’s hurt you above anything else and why?
[Insert pretty much anything my grandma on my mom’s side has said. But she’s dead to me now, so it doesn’t matter.]
49. You can ask your favourite celebrity 3 questions and she’s taken a magical truth pill so she will 100% answer honestly, what do you ask?
Again, I don’t have a favorite celebrity.
50. What mark would you want to leave on this world after you are gone?
I’d love to do something important in the field of statistics, but no guarantee that that will happen. I’d just like to make peoples’ lives better/easier somehow.
51. What makes you most angry?
People who enter through the “Exit” door and who leave through the “Enter” door. Seriously? SERIOUSLY?
52. Who do you think is a really underrated celebrity and what do you love about them?
Once again…
53. What are the main qualities you look for when thinking about a significant other?
See #29.
54. What’s the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for you?
When Aaron and I were going out, I went to Hawaii with the band for the beginning of Thanksgiving break and he was going home for the entire break, so we weren’t going to see each other at all that week. When I got back from Hawaii I found a vase of roses, a bunch of stuff from the dollar store (it was our special place, haha), and a super cute note saying that he couldn’t wait to see me again. It rocked.
55. What is one of your favorite memories?
Can I just say the whole year living with the guys in the house? That was an awesome year.
56. What do you do when you really want to impress someone?
Screw it up and misread signals and realize that any person worth impressing is probably a person who wouldn’t talk to me in the first place.
57. What are your 3 favourite animals?
Cats…uh, slugs…and elephant seals? Yeah, find a weirder list than that.
58. What’s the nicest present you’ve ever received?
Probably Rock Band II. It was such a surprise and my roomies and I spent SO MUCH TIME playing it. Super awesome.
59. People always go around saying ‘oh I’m their biggest fan,’ but what does being a truly big fan of someone mean to you?
I think it involves enjoying whatever that person does (or that person in general), but not to the extent that you ignore/dismiss their flaws (then it just gets creepy).
60. Have you ever wanted to change anything about your life? If so, what?
Everything, always. Welcome to Claudia Land.
61. What is something you feel like you are really good at?
Making up new song lyrics to existing songs.
62. What are your top 5 favourite all time songs by your favourite artist?
I don’t think I have a favorite artist.
63. What are your top 5 favourite all time videos by your favourite artist?
See above.
64. If you were given $3,000,000 to put towards 3 charities/foundations ($1 mil each obvs), what would you choose and why?
I’d make my own!
65. What’s one thing someone has done for you that was really small but made a huge impact?
Uh…I actually can’t think of anything specific right now.
66. What do you do when you can’t sleep?
I never have this problem, mainly because I don’t “go to bed” until I’m ready to pass out.
67. What’s something that’s on your bucket list?
Buckets.
68. If you could change 3 things within your government, what would they be and why?
1. Disband the Republican party.
2. Can I just do that?
3. I think that would solve a lot of issues.
69. What’s your favourite holiday and why?
I’ve always liked Christmas. I like the weather around that time (usually) and it means my mom is off from work and we can hang and open presents!
70. What’s the kindest thing a stranger has ever done for you? Even if it’s TINY like holding a door open for you, something that you remember even though they were a complete stranger.
When I younger I had a knack for getting stuck in snow banks. Like, I’d be climbing over a bank of snow and my boot would get lodged in it and I’d be stuck. This happened more than I care to admit.
Anyway, one time this happened at the Post Office when we lived in Troy and this random guy had to come and pull me out. I was so freaking embarrassed, you don’t even know.
71. Who’s your favorite cartoon character?
Can I say all of Dethklok? ‘Cause that’s what I’m going to say.
72. What’s the first song that comes to your mind while reading this and why?
Reading this survey? I have no idea. I actually have no song in my mind right now.
73. Put the 7 deadly sins in order of the one you commit the most to the least.
Hmm…Wrath, Envy, Gluttony, Sloth, Greed, Pride, Lust.
74. What would you like to be the first dance song at your wedding?
The Butt Song would be fantastic.
75. Have you ever been told you look like a famous person, if so, who?
I don’t really look like anyone famous. At least, I’ve never been told I do.
76. What’s one thing you can not live without?
Statistics!!!
77. What is the most selfless thing you have ever done for someone?
It involved relationship stuff. Not going there tonight.
79. What are 3 things that have happened in your life that you’ve never forgotten? Big or small, just things you know you won’t ever forget and still seem crystal clear now.
1. The time my cat Wooder died on my bed when I was really young.
2. Having to leave my sixth grade graduation ceremony to go get an emergency appendectomy.
3. When I was in fourth grade I wrote this poem called “The Tart that Could Fart.” In the Christian school I attended, the word “fart” was pretty racy and thus my poem was not enjoyed by my teacher at the time. I remember a few days after I wrote it some older kid (I think his name was Greg?) went up to me and said that Sister Margaret (our principal) wanted to meet with me in her office and discuss the poem. I was 100% sure I was going to be expelled. Turns out this kid was making the whole thing up. He was forced to apologize and then pretty much hated me from that point onward.
80. What is most important to you in friendships and relationships, and why?
I really need to feel comfortable around the person/people and they need to feel comfortable around me as well. Once we all feel okay enough to start getting weird, then the fun starts.
81. What’s your favourite children’s tv show/movie?
THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER
82. What song makes you cry the most?
10,000 Miles – Mary Chapin Carpenter.
83. What’s the funniest film you’ve ever seen?
Tremors?
84. What’s something crazy that you’ve always wanted to do?
Run away from it all.
85. Has anything ever happened to you that you just can’t forgive?
One thing, yes.
86. What’s your biggest fear?
Failing. (And dragonflies.)
87. What is your favorite food?
Broccoli!
88. Least favorite food? Why?
I don’t know if I have a least favorite. I have a whole list of things I don’t like, but I don’t think I dislike one thing more than everything else.
89. Have you ever felt ashamed about something? If so what was it & why?
Welcome to my life.
90. Do you keep a journal? If so what mostly goes in it? Random thoughts, feelings, stories?
I keep a blog. Everything goes in it (except sanity).
94. If you were told you were going to have 3 daughters, what would you want to name them?
I shouldn’t be in charge of having children, let alone naming them.
95. Do you have a middle name and if so, what is it?
Marie.
96. How did your name get chosen? What’s the story behind it?
According to my mom, I looked like a “Claudia.”
98. Are you a virgin?
Indeed.
99. What are the stories behind your tattoos/piercings and if you don’t have any, would you like any?
My industrial was a last-minute decision when Lanky, Aaron, and I road-tripped to Missoula so that Aaron could get a few new piercings.
And yes, I would like tattoos.
100. Do you have siblings? If so, what are their names and how old are they?
No sibbies.
YouTube Throwback
So I logged into my old YouTube account this afternoon—the one I made back in 2007 and pretty much stopped using by 2009. My old “Favorites” list is still posted there…
A The Brave Little Toaster trailer created as if it was a horror film.
This is appropriate for this time of year.
Oh my god, shoes.
Older than old, but still great.
And saving the best for last:
If you haven’t seen Benny Lava, you need to watch it now!
TWSB: Swingers
Here are some pendulums:
I didn’t want the video to end!
According to the site, one complete cycle lasts 60 seconds. In that period, the longest pendulum oscillates 51 times and each successively shorter pendulum makes one additional oscillation more than the last—thus, the shortest oscillates 65 times.
I really like how when they’re all out of sync it looks like they’re slowing down and coming to a stop, but then they sync up a little again and it’s like, “BOOSH we’re still going!”
Very cool.
Somewhat unrelated, but here’s another mathy vid that I didn’t want to see the end of. Which of the three panels captured your attention the most? On the first watch it was the middle panel, on the second watch it was the far left panel for me.
If I had to pick a song that was “me”…
…it’d have to be this.
I don’t even know why. But it speaks to me on a genetic level.
I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time
More Achievement Hunter today. Sorry. Pretty much every video they’ve put out this past week has been hysterical, and this is absolutely no exception:
The game itself is absurd, and having the AH guys play it brings it to a whole new level of WTF-ness.
Also, have some Rage Quit. This one’s growing on me:
As always, if excessive cursing (and/or freakish aliens wrestling) offends you, do not watch!
END!
