YouTube Tuesday: Daft Punk / TRON

I think I'm more looking forward to the soundtrack than the movie...but in any case, here's a little clip for the upcoming TRON movie whose soundtrack was done completely by the insane Daft Punk (the "DJ's" in the booth in this video, in case you didn't know). BTW, I think it's awesome how Daft Punk have been wearing the same costumes forever and you plop them in this movie and don't have to make a single adjustment; it's like they were created so long ago to be in the new TRON movie. This is the only tune officially released thus far but if the rest of the soundtrack is 1/2 as good as this song I might just put in on loop for the entire day when it comes out in a couple weeks. Oh yeah and I'm sure the movie will be good, too, but seriously: DAFT. PUNK.



Oh and in case you want to listen offline, here's a link to download the song above: Derezzed.

YouTube Tuesday: Last Train to Awesometown

My obsession with Parry Gripp continues, as should your obsession with Parry's quirky and incredibly catchy tunes.

Today, I give you a song that should be a part of your morning routine to get you amped for the day. Whether you're tackling traffic and hatin' co-workers or getting ready for the big game you'll surely be inspired by 5 different kinds of nachos..whaaa????

Just watch...

YouTube Tuesday: THE FINAL COUNTDOWN.....

Besides Journey's "Separate Ways" is there a song, video and band that you'd put in the music time capsule as the entry for 80's hair band more fitting than The Final Countdown by Europe? I didn't think so. Here's what The Final Countdown has got in this awesomely, awesome video:

• BIG hair
• BIG outfits
• Androgynous lead singer
• The "goofy" band member, in this case the drummer with his oh-so-silly running shorts and bandanna
• Synthesizers
• Makeup
• High school A/V Club quality video effects
• Empowering lyrics and chord progressions
• Pyrotechnics
• 50+ piece drum kit
• Extremely confusing "story" to the video
• Gratuitous live concert footage
• Aerial band shots on the roof, taken from a helicopter
• Groupies
• EPIC guitar solo, with accompanying "lead guitar face"
• Band members holding gold albums for the press

If you find a better entry for the 80's hair band video to put in the time capsule, bring it...until then, it's The Final Countdown...

YouTube Tuesday: This Too Shall Pass

OK Go! Makes super awesome videos. Check out their latest for This Too Shall Pass in which they build a horribly complicated, yet awesome, Rube Goldberg machine.

Enjoy!

YouTube Tuesday: This is the Best Burrito I've Ever Eaten

Sticking to the Perry Gripp theme from last week's video (not posted on Tuesday, but you can figure it out) we're gonna highlight one of my favorite Parry Gripp tunes. Don't ask any questions about what his fascination is with small rodents, cute pets and burritos; I have no idea, he's just a weird guy that writes really fun, annoying tunes that you're simultaneously stoked and annoyed to get stuck in your head for the entire day.

All you really need to know about this tune is that it is ultra radtacular (I made that word up and have been saying it a lot in the hopes it catches on...do your part, people).

Enjoy!

BONUS VIDEO!!

Since you didn't get a YTT last week, I'm sharing a 2nd bonus video, which happens to be a classic from back in '08 (I assume that's long enough in the past to qualify as a classic...). This one needs no explanation...more Parry Gripp...best ringtone ever...

YouTube Tuesday: Economics Rap

Ever wanted to know basic market theories created by the most famous 20th Century economists of all time but were afraid to ask because the subject is so daunting, boring and confusing? Do you like learning lessons and hearing tales spun by lyrical rap? If so, I think I've found the perfect video for you...



Learn more about the economic theories behind John Maynard Keynes and F.A Hayek at the Econstories website...

http://econstories.tv/home.html

YouTube Tuesday: Food, Inc.

A month ago, I watched the following film. I read Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma a while back so I was very interested in Food, Inc. as my Generation Y desire for visual media yearned for something more than just pages on a Kindle.

I'm not going to go vegetarian or protest food companies but this film and Omnivore's Dilemma has really made me become far more active in choosing what I put in my body and what companies I endorse. This film (or preferably the book) should be very important to you, regardless of what you choose to eat. The information in this film is just as important and eye opening to vegetarians as it is to omnivores. There's a pretty f*cked up world that we are forced to be a part of whenever we seek nourishment that's controlled by a handful of companies and regulated by the people who used to run those companies. You truly have to wonder who is looking out for us, the consumer, and for those of you with children I implore you to do what you can to ensure that your children are nourished with the right calories and don't fall prey to cheap/empty calories that lead to things like diabetes and other illnesses as well as contributing to the overall obesity of this nation, which is a byproduct of the cheap, processed calories that our government has pushed on us our entire lives.

I realize that going to an all-natural diet and making many of the changes in this film is very expensive from a cost standpoint but you owe it to yourself to try. Try cutting out high-fructose corn syrup for a week and watch your weight and overall health improve. Eat fresh vegetables, plant a garden to eat in-season vegetables or at least fresh herbs (for those with limited space); every little thing helps. And while I disagree that you cannot put a cost on your health (it's just not feasible for 90% of the people in this world to eat as Food, Inc. would recommend) I do agree that every single one of us can make better decisions when it comes to nourishment.

If you want more information, check out the Food Inc. website http://www.foodincmovie.com/ or check out the book Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan.

Anyway, get you some Food, Inc...and start becoming more concerned about what you put in your body.

YouTube Tuesday: Simmer down now...

When we were driving back from Seattle Katie plugged in her iPod and  had a big collection of SNL skits on there that had us LOL'ing the whole way home. One skit in particular has been making the rounds here at the house: Simmer down now.

So, without further adieu, simmer down now...

YouTube Tuesday: Ho x 3

The Dan Band. If you don't know Dan Finnerty and the Dan Band, chances are you do you just don't know it. If Dan Band are ever near you, you owe it to yourself to see the most fun and most original live show you will ever see. Anyway...

This is one of the few original tracks Dan has recorded and it's pure genius. I mean prostitutes need some Christmas joy and the song has such a happy story; what's not to love? Who better to sing Ho Ho Ho than Dan Finnerty and The Dan Band? Nobody, that's who.

While I love everything about the Dan Band I must admit that the backup singers are probably the best part. You want proof? Pay attention from 0:59 through the chorus and tell me you didn't LOL yourself or start rockin out to their backup singer stylings or emulate their smooth moves.

YouTube Tuesday: His light show is better than your light show

Do you remember this house from a few years back? This is the original bad-ass Christmas light show house syncronized to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This display consists of over 25,000 lights and took 2 months to set up. People can drive by and tune their radios to a certain frequency and listen to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra while watchting the show in perfect synchronization. Miller Lite used this house in a commercial the following Christmas season so with luck the guy got compensated for his fun Christmas light project in addition to bragging rights for best neighborhood light show.

It's pretty epic and while there may be others out there that are bigger or better, this is the one that started it all and that's still worth something in my book.

So, here ya go. Get yourself in the holiday mood!

YouTube Tuesday: Open Outcry

I'm a futures trader. I buy and sell futures contracts for fun and profit. You can try and complicate the process, but in the end that's all it really is. I trade electronically on the Chicago Mercatile Exchange, NY Mercantile Exchange and Chicago Board of Trade. Before the advent of electronic trading, these marketplaces operated using a process called "open outcry" and they still do, just not as much as they used to. This process is a simple auction system where buyers attempt to buy contracts at the lowest price possible and sellers attempt to sell at the highest price possible until both parties agree on a price. The gesturing, yelling, shoving and whatnot is simply used to gain the attention of prospective buyers and sellers. You've got a contract you want to sell @ 1104, so flash 4 fingers with your palm OUT and get the attention of someone who wants to buy them from you (look for someone with 4 fingers up and their palm IN) and do it fast before they sense the market is moving lower and decide to lower their bid.

Sadly, open outcry is slowly fading into the horizon. The overwhelming majority of futures contracts are traded electronically and several exchanges have switched to 100% electronic trading. There is simply too much demand for these products that it makes open outcry inefficient and damn near impossible considering the sheer volume. But, the essence of what I do is no different than what floor traders do...it's just not as loud, violent or exciting. There's a great deal of nostalgia and respect watching people trade in an open outcry exchange and myself and thousands of other traders across the globe owe everything to the open outcry system and the markets that were established so very long ago using the exact same bid/offer system we still use today.

For today's YouTube Tuesday, here's a glimpse into what the essence of trading and open outcry is. This is a trailer for an upcoming documentary called FLOORED. It is filmed on the floors of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade; exchanges I participate in (electronically) each and every day. It's a sort of homage to days gone by and the characters that still participate in an open outcry environment and a way to let the rest of the world--hopefully--gain a respect for and understanding of markets that affect their lives each and every day, whether they realize it or not.

YouTube Tuesday: Archimedes Principle & frying a turkey

I'd like to think that Archimedes is rolling over in his grave right now as he listens to this hillbilly referencing the famous principle whilst preparing to drop a turkey into a turkey fryer. I guess the important question is how this dude knew about Archimedes Principle yet still F'd up the pretty simple act of dropping a turkey in a fryer. My record for successful turkey fryer drops is 4-0 and I did not know what Archimedes Principle was prior to seeing this video. I guess the lesson to be learned here is that Archimedes Principle makes you stupid.

It's idiots like this that give turkey frying a bad name, but keep sites like YouTube in business. So, let's all give thanks to this idiot hillbilly turkey fryer and YouTube this Thanksgiving.

YouTube Tuesday: Now THAT's a slapshot!

OK, this is fake. Let's not kid ourselves into thinking this could ever happen. Ever. Not sure if you've ever picked up a curling stone, but they're not exactly light.

With that said, this is pretty pretty F'n funny. I LOL'd myself. Twice.

YouTube Tuesday: Romancing Your Soul

My friend Greg posted this on his Facebook recently and I think everyone should watch it.

Very inspirational, very cool and from the AARP? Go figure...

Thanks to Greg!

YouTube Tuesday: Yo Gabba Gabba Surfing

I only know about Yo Gabba Gabba through watching The Soup and to say I "know Yo Gabba Gabba" is a stretch, at best. It's a kids show, apparently, and judging by what passes as a kids show these days, kids of this generation are gonna be f*cked up (sadly, this clip does not include Bro-Bee or any of the other strange characters). OK, that might be a bit of a stretch, but this sure as hell ain't Sesame Street. Back to the point...

What I do know is surfing and how to count to 5. It was with great excitement my friend JP posted over on his awesome surfing blog this video of the Yo Gabba Gabba gang teaching kids everywhere how to count by showing various fin setups on some super groovy boards. An appearance by the always hip and strange Alex Knost and direction by Thomas Campbell who makes some of the finest surf films around and you've got kids off on the right track to learning how to count...and subliminally how the use of mild psychadelic drugs and marijuana are A-OK if you wanna be a hippie surfer in Southern California.

YouTube Tuesday: Anvil Shooting

Let's try and get back in the habit of posting fun videos from YouTube every Tuesday like we used to, OK?

This has sort of made the rounds but in case you've not seen it, here is anvil shooting. Maybe the most incredible thing about this is that there's a world champion of such an event. Who knew? It's doubtful it will make the Olympics as an exhibition sport, which is sad, though I'm sure that it might garner a spot in the redneck Olympics in 2018 if the organizers play their cards right.

It's videos like this that remind me of what I miss and don't miss about living in the Midwest.

Miss: people finding another ingenious way to utilize gunpowder for sport.
Don't miss: people finding another ingenious way to utilize gunpowder for sport.

Thanks to Kuka for the heads up on this one...

YouTube Tuesday: Fast Car

I've not posted a YouTube Tuesday in a while, so here ya go.

This is a segment from one of my current favorite TV shows Top Gear. It's a British show broadcast here in the states on BBC America. I'm a big car guy; a really European car guy. I also love comedy and great chemistry between the hosts and Top Gear gets an A+ in every category. If you get BBC America, this is a must see show, even if you're not a big car nut like me.

In this segment, one of the hosts is attempting to take the World's fastest production car (the Bugatti Veyron) to it's top speed of 253mph. Yeah; that's fast...faster than an F1 car. It's no surprise he gets to 253mph and along the way some of the facts revealed about the car and the speed it is traveling are insane. 1 football field a second, burning through an entire tank of gas in 12 minutes...that sort of useless knowledge.

It's a bit long at 7 minutes plus, but worth every second.

YouTube Tuesday - Mass. Street Rocks

This is Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, KS; home of the University of Kansas. It's commonly called "Mass Street" and is Main Street USA...er, Main Street Lawrence, KS as it were.

This was minutes after KU defeated Davidson 59-57 in Sunday's Midwest Regional final.

Yeah, you might say that Lawrence was pretty stoked for the team. I heard when KU won it all in 1988, Mass St. was like Bourbon Street; solid people from end to end and the party lasted until morning.

You have no idea how much I wish I was there to celebrate with the KU faithful :)

YouTube Tuesday - Kelly

For YouTube Tuesday, I'm going a little surfy surfy on ya today.

If one man and one wave could illustrate the feeling of being a surfer and how dynamic and incredible the experience is, that one man would be Kelly Slater and that one wave would be Rincon. Kelly's weapon of choice? A fish. Bitchin.

YouTube Tuesday

A little late, but check this out for YouTube Tuesday. Going back to my roots today with a little Sesame Street flashback: the pinball number count sequence! For those that don't remember this (read: anyone that's younger than about 28) it's from Sesame Street and it rules. The Pointer Sisters performed the song--which is super fun to hum aloud in elevators or in queues and see how many people start bobbing to it-- and it debuted just before I was born and stuck around for a while, before Sesame Street started to get weird...