Xtra Normal

Xtra Normal is a website where you can type up a script and the site animates it for you. Robotic voices read your text, and you can make the animated puppets change expressions, face the camera, point, etc. There are a variety of possible camera angles (1 shot, 2 shots, close-ups), a handful of soundtrack and noise options, and different backgrounds.

You can share it on their site, or upload it to YouTube when you're done. The site is still in beta, and it's free. You get what you pay for, but it's a lot of fun.

I scrounged together a super-cheesy, quick example (TOTI exclusive!):

Our Most Mexican President


(From Courtney, who told me that Él B. J. was Spanish for LBJ, and Metafilter)

People Who Deserve It

People Who Deserve It is a website devoted to documenting "socially responsible reasons to punch someone in the face." It has been up and running since Sept. 2008.

The site is a little "Stuff White People Like" and a little ... well that's it. It's exactly SWPL, but for annoying behaviors instead of objects of white hipster desire. 


Personal favorites, in no particular order:

• #73 Inaccurate Wikipedia Contributor
  
• #59 Passive Agressive Emoticon User
  
• #65 Cheapskate Landlord
  
• # 9 Sexual Innuendo T-Shirt Guy
  
• #6 Loser Who Laments About Turning 25
  
• #53 Evasive Bartender
  
• #29 Douche Who Wear Sunglasses Inside (aka Corey Hart)
  
• #25 Concert Pusher
  
• #27 Incessant Facebook Status Updater
  

From their About Page:

"We’re not mean people, honestly.

This blog is not written with malice or scorn, but with a sincere desire to witness the upward progression of the human race. And some people are ruining it for everybody.

People who wear sunglasses inside.
Savages who pee on the seat.
This kind of conduct only perpetuates the acceptance of degenerate behavior.

On this space log, you will find examples of socially responsible reasons to punch someone in the face. And remember, we do it for the kids."

You can even suggest punches, just like real life. 

(From The Kott)

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard is a well-done Onion News Network video spoofing Apple Computers. The pretense is Apple releasing its newest offering, the MacBook Wheel--a computer for people who don't really need to work.

The delivery is very deadpan, the sets are well made. I like the backgound jokes, like the sign behind the reps saying "The Wheel. Reinvented." It's been such a long time that I've read The Onion, I forgot these guys were good at comedy. And life. 

In-video bonus! 1, 4 or 9 vicims, next.

(From Buzzfeed)

Brown Dyed Hotel Puzzle

Brown Dyed Hotel Puzzle is an online game with no instructions. The goal is to progress through the levels without getting bored.

Just click click click until you move on to a different puzzle. 

It was made by a group of nordic supernerds: "Brown Dyed Hotel is a group of students from Campus Karlshamn of Blekinge Institute of Technology. Together we have brought Ether to life in 15 weeks.

Programmer: Roger Skogh
3D Artist: Peter Löfgren 
3D Artist & Animator: Daniel Palm 
3D Artist: Mattias Jansson 
2D Artists: Filip Otto, Emil Johansson"

It was fun until I got distracted by shiny objects.

(From Mefi)

What's My Blog Rated?

What's My Blog Rated? is another one of those personality-type quizzes for your blog. It gives your blog a film rating (G, PG, PG-13, or R) based on how many bad words there are in it.  Just punch in your blog's address, and the site analyses your blog. 

The rating quiz is free, but the results are only given after you dodge an ad from the supporting dating site shilling its services. Just click through and ignore it.



TOTI got a rating of PG-13 based based on the presence of the following words:
jizz (4x) crap (2x) fuck (1x)

(From Buzzfeed)

Calvin and Hobbes on the Economy

Calvin and Hobbes on the Economy is a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon that explains what is going on with a lemonade stand as an analogy.  My friend Jenk forwarded it to me, and she  would also like to remind you that The Financial Crisis, as Explained to My Fourteen-Year-Old Sister was an excellent post. In case you missed it. 

(From my friend Jenk)

Waxy.org: Links

Waxy.org: Links is an ugly but interesting site by Andy Baio of Waxy.org fame. It's a mostly daily link blog.

His links cover anything from rumors of MTV greenlighting a College Humor show  to a super nerdy laundry list of overlooked indie video games of 2008. 

The links can be seen in a more aesthetically pleasing way on the right column of Andy's main site, Waxy.org.

Andy is an independent journalist and programmer living in Portland, Oregon. Clearly, my work here is done.  Just playing! 

Time of my Life

Time of my Life is a Youtube video showing Dan Hanna aging over 17 years. He took two pictures daily for seventeen years, and strung them together into a video. His aging is very subtle. And jerky. 

In his own words:

"The following image is of the apparatus that I am using to create a stop-motion animation of myself getting older. Every day I position myself in the center of this ring and take two simultaneous photos (180 degrees apart). The ring is marked off for the 365 days of the year and a pair of crosshairs (mounted on a sliding wooden fixture) are incremented along the circumference of the ring to line up with these markings. I use the crosshairs to position my head as nearly as possible in the center of the ring. So far, I've accumulated approximately 17 years worth of photos (the project was started in '91).

FAQ:
There's a section of the video where half of each photo is black - what's going on?
This was the result of switching from 100ASA to 200ASA film. When I halved the shutter speed to compensate the flash was unable to sync up. ND filters were the answer. The next version of the video will use this to my advantage.

How did you find the time?
I found the time by making the daily snapshots no more time consuming than brushing my teeth. It's become such a habit now that I hardly realize I'm doing it. It only takes about a minute each day.

What gave you the idea?
I remember seeing old time-lapse films of skyscrapers being constructed and of whole cities quickly evolving over a period of years. Also I saw my share of old films where a vampire ages rapidly and turns to dust. I'm not sure but I think the idea sprang from seeing those types of images.

Where did the music come from?
The music was purchased from a royalty free buyout music company called Fresh Music. The track is called "Hiroshima" and is from their "Swing" CD. The next version will have a completely different soundtrack.

Sometimes your shoulders look contorted - what's going on?
I use crosshairs and a string to position my head in the center of the ring. Unfortunately, this does nothing to make sure that the orientation of my head is correct. This can result in my head tilting forward and back relative to my neck and shoulders. This is particulary the case when I'm traveling and I'm not able to hang the ring from the ceiling. That is, in the struggle to support the ring and position my head correctly, I would often find myself contorting my neck and shoulders.

There was also a period of a couple years where the cable release mechanism was broken and I would trigger the two cameras by hand. This meant that my head would turn to look at the crosshairs but my shoulders and arms needed to point towards the two camera.

These types of projects are narcissistic.
You're crazy. But enough about you, let's talk about me.

He must have stayed in the same room for 17 years.
Well yes, if by "room" you mean "planet".

He will grow old and shriveled and nobody will want to have sex with him.
Unfortunately, my girlfriend sort of agrees with this one."

Now sit and think about how old you are. This is the oldest you've ever been.

(From Andy Baio)

New Year's Resolution Song

New Year's Resolution Song is a humorous song about your failed New Year's Resolutions by Rhett & Link. They are ever-so-helpful in anticipating requests for lyrics and Tabs, so they put it right up on the Youtube link page. Best of luck with your resolutions.

From their Youtube description:

Lyrics and some chords:
F
working out, losing weight
Bb
maybe using tanning spray
F Bb
becoming more attractive in general

reading more, watching less
learning all the rules for chess
becoming somewhat smarter in general
eating fish, not fingernails
volunteer to save the whales
becoming a better guy in general
saving more, spending less
yes I will wax my chest
dating more girls in general

Bridge C Bb F
But not this year. No this year is different!
As different as a gazelle. Yes, a gazelle from a deer. (They're actually not that different.)
After all these failed resolutions. Bb C Bb C
My future is clear, the future is near!

Chorus: F A Bb C
Just forget those resolutions you
know that you are never gonna do
and adopt a more realistical view
by committing to things that come easily to you
like eat at least one value meal a week
or put the correct shoes on the correct feet
Bb C F
just "Raise the bar to walk effortlessly underneath!"

Chorus 2:
Just face the fact you've always thought
those resolutions don't mean squat
Settle in to a comfortable spot
embrace all the things you know you are not.
Hit the snooze, roll over, then repeat
Make large purchases, then lose the receipts
just "Raise the bar to walk effortlessly underneath!"

2009: HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

(From Today on the Interwebs)