Pigeon: Impossible

I, like most people who find themselves to be participating members of digital society,  do a little spring cleaning in my email inbox every once in a while. Today I was doing just this and came across a message from November that linked to an unbelievable animated short film aptly titled Pigeon: Impossible. This said, the video might be old news to you guys, but it's so perfect that I had to share again:



Here's a little background- Pigeon: Impossible represents writer/director/producer/animator Lucas Martell's first attempt at 3D animation. And there's no typo there, I did say his first attempt. Even more impressive is that Martell is not actually trained as a film maker-- he graduated with a degree in commercial music.

According to Martell, the project began as an excuse to learn 3D animation, however, five years and $10k later, the final cut of Pigeon: Impossible is clearly more than the aimless experimentations of some 28 year old computer geek. Somewhere along the line, focus shifted from the technicalities of 3D animation to using those techniques as a means to tell a great story. Correct me if I'm wrong but  to me, the result is an independent short film technically and narratively equal to anything coming from a studio. The kicker? Not only was it accomplished for under 10,000 bucks, Pigeon: Impossible was made exclusively during Mr. Martell and his few volunteers' free time.

Not to beat a dead horse or anything, but like I said, it's unreal. The animation is flawlessly rendered, the soundtrack is awesome, and most importantly, the story line is engaging, hilarious, and charming enough to warm even the coldest of hearts.

If want to learn more about the film, check out the website here.

How's this for putting things into perspective

Final Score:

Fox news: -2

Obama Admin: 0

Jon Stewart: 823

Oh it's so cute, where can I get one?

So I just came across this video:

That's right. The year is 1996 and thirteen-year-old, skinny, awkward little Seth Rogen is killing it at some comedy club in Vancouver. He's so precious I just want to shrink him down and put him in a jar and pull it out whenever skies are gray. Enjoy.

Oh, to be German

Isn't this a treat? I mean, I got a kick out of it.

Too pooped to post big tonight, but yeah, enjoy this little morsel.

Words to live by...

"If you're robbing a bank and your pants fall down, I think it's okay to laugh and to let the hostages laugh too, because, come on, life is funny."

- Jack Handey

In case you were wondering...

In honor of the comedy troupe's 40th anniversary, Gnews has taken it upon itself to rank Monty Python's top twenty sketches. It's pretty much brilliant. I'll post the classic Dead Parrot here for you to enjoy, but if you're looking for a few more laughs, be sure to check out the full listing here.

Douchebags!

GQ has put out a highly amusing and surprisingly accurate list that purports to expose America's 25 douchiest institutions of undergraduate study*. In compiling the list, GQ has named the specific subtype of douchiness of which the college is guilty, the symptoms caused by said type of douchitude, what douchey things graduates will be doing 10 years from now, and other institutions that deserve mention within a particular category of douchiness-- for example, though UVA wins top honors for home of the 'blue-blazer [southern country-club] douche', it is undeniable that Sewanee and Vanderbuilt merit recognition under that heading.

Now, my plan had been to find a good picture of a douchebag on google end the post there. If you go ahead and type 'douchebag' into Google, however, you'll understand when I say that some of the stuff I ran across was just too good not to share with you:

1. Here's an article from a local paper called B that outlines the anatomy of the a douchebag on differing degrees along the douchebag spectrum. For a little context, Baltimore is not only home to little old me, but also a veritable cesspool of extreme douchebags. The city breeds them. I hypothesize that this is due to the fact that its Mid-Atlantic location makes it a centralized meeting place for all manner of douchery-- from those who still have lawn jockeys and claim the Confederate flag is just an expression of regional pride, to those who summer anywhere ('the Vineyard' or Nantucket, more often then not), to the New Jersey guido, to Baltimore's own Lax Brah.' If you think I'm off the mark, though, then please feel free to share your theories with me.
2. Las Vegas, so troubled by the current economic situation, actually launched a marketing campaign that celebrates the douchebag. I kid you not. If you score high enough on the douchebag quiz, they give you coupons. In true douchebag fashion, the posterboy for the initiative has a particularly douchey MySpace page. Yeah. MySpace.
3. OfficialDatingResource.com** terms douchebaggery a medical condition. It has a full write up of causes, symptoms, and treaments for Douchebag Syndrome, WebMD style***.
4. How could I make this post without mentioning www.hotchickswithdouchebags.com. Go. It's brilliant. Just go.

*As an avid Tar Heels fan, I particularly love that the feature claims that though Duke deserves the number one Douche spot, they didn't want to make Duke number one at anything.

** I didn't know anyone needed an official dating resource, but hey, should that need arise, I guess we're all covered.

*** I don't want to be sexist, so here is OfficialDatingResource.com's write up on Princess syndrome, the affliction that they claim to be the female equivalent of douchebaggery.

Oh my god, this is hysterical

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Daily Dose of Hotness

Thought I would start off everyone's day with this correct choice. I stole this picture from Chelsea Handler's blog, (who I happen to think is hilarious) and I'm not going to repeat what she said about him because I think both Dom and I agree that we'd like to keep things PG (and employer friendly), but I can't think of any other perfect way to start my day... Also, go see the Hangover if you want a full dose of Bradley Cooper hotness.

In case you were wondering...

This is a photograph of the Fairy Cottage in North Berkeley, CA , home to the Belladonna Fairy Camp-- for girls aged 6-10. Yes, you read correctly. No, I am not kidding. Honest to god fairy camp. 

What does fairy camp entail? When interviewed by USA Today, camp director Jodi MacMillan says:

"Belladonna girls learn to perceive auras with clairvoyant counselors... and explore their individual spirituality and the entire rainbow of expressions and ideas."

Course offerings at the "magical eco-arts day camp" include but are not limited to the following: 

• Fairy fashion
• Fairy house design
• Potions
• Divination
• Fluttering 101
• Animal telepathy

Also of note is the portfolio of camp employees. Counsellors possess such qualifications as  "certified flower essence practitioner", "Priestess of Song", and "reality shifter". Additionally on staff is Rex the Golden Retriever, "a powerful telepathic communicator... available for the girls to practice interspecies [sic] dialogue". 

Now, if this seems like your cup of tea, too bad. The Belladonna Fairy Camp is fully enrolled for 2009. You can, however, register to be on the wait list. 

***

If you're like me, you are positively astounded by this unbelievable nugget of information. Imagine my surprise, then, upon Googling "fairy camp" and receiving over 8,000 hits. I guess that it's fair enough, though-- all in all, it beats the living hell out of Jesus Camp. 

DIY

an innovative way to approach the recession...( and little something to keep you going)

The very worst in golf fashion

Time.com has posted a fairly hysterical photo essay chronicling the very worst in Golf fashion. Not all of the ensembles are heinously offensive, however those that are make up for the rest.

In the same vein, Golf magazine has an unintentionally funny article that highlights the history of golfing attire. Also of note is a guide that tells you how to sport the green jacket (the traditional trophy given to Masters' winners, for more info click here). I particularly enjoy "Acid jazz with [a hint of] country".

Closing out the fourth

Fireworks and idiots don't mix.

happy birthday America.

The best dance move ever.

The fork in the garbage disposal.

The full "YES dance", as well as his stellar Urban Ninja series (among other things), are available on dancer/ actor/ entertainer Robert Hoffman's website, PUNCHROBERT.com, or on his YouTube channel. Kid has skills. And a great sense of humour. And a serious case of gayface. 

I guess you can't have it all.

If you're really feeling it, check out his favorite videos... there's a sleepwalking dog and a crying sorority girl that are pretty hysterical...