Mr. Always Late to Small Group Guy

Mr. Always Late to Small Group Guy is yet another installment of the comedy video series from The University of Maryland School of Medicine Class of 2006 that spoofs those old Budlight radio commercials saluting the common man, Real Men of Genius. I don't know anyone like this. Not-a-one. No sireee. This is the final one I'll be posting. A relief for those of you hate the series, and closure for everyone else. There used to be more but I can't find them online. Enjoy!

Create Your Own Snowflake

Create Your Own Snowflake is an application by previously featured blogger, Interwebs guru, and spastic entertainer extraordinaire Ze Frank.

Basically, you make snowflakes by clicking and dragging a blue awkward shape onto a black screen, and the application rotates and spins it. The snowflake can be held still, spun 2d or spun 3d. It makes you think of pretty things like Christmas and how bitter cold it is outside my window. I digress.

It's just soothing or boring, depending on your mood. Kind of like staring at fish tank. Namaste.
(From reader Thom)
PS: Happy birthday to my mom!

Diesel Sweeties

Diesel Sweeties is a webcomic by Richard Stevens III (R Stevens) that was syndicated between 2007 and 2008.

These are better for the uninitiated reader, because most of the comics can stand alone.

As wiki explains, "The comic depicts a world where robots exist alongside humans, with human-robot romantic and sexual relationships commonplace. Although there is some character development and the occasional story arc, most strips are largely self-contained. Recurring themes include annual Halloween strips, featuring characters from the comic in costume." And in case you're wondering, yes, the characters are pixelated on purpose.

This concludes Webcomic Week here on TOTI. Hope you enjoyed it!



(From Guy, Wikipedia)

VG Cats

VG Cats (short for Video Game Cats) is a webcomic about videogames. And cats. By Canadian nerd Scott Ramsoomair.

Scott claims, on the topic of furries: "I didn't know about anything Furry until after I started the comic. Though I know now the art style is regarded as such. Always been "cartoons" to me. I really don't care either way so long as it makes you laugh. : ) "

BONUS! Previously featured, PhD: Piled Higher and Deeper.

(From Wiki, Guy)

Sluggy Freelance

Sluggy Freelance is a daily online comic by Pete Abrams about aliens, demons, dating, and bunnies with switchblades. Right.
Wiki explains:

"While the strip began as a gag-based series in which the three main protagonists (Torg, Riff and Zoë) would stumble from one brief, bizarre, parody-centric adventure to the next, the characters and plotlines have gradually become longer and more serious. However, even the more dramatic and soap operatic story arcs often conform to the common gag comic strip format. While there is often sexual innuendo and cartoon violence, the comic contains no strong profanity or explicit nudity."

The drawings do get better as Pete gets practice. Be forewarned, the site explains that, "Very few Sluggy Freelance comics work as stand-alones, but part of the charm of Sluggy Freelance is its serial nature. As a new viewer, we've set up this page just for you, to get you acclimated, and hopefully charmed."

Enjoy!



(From Guy, Wikipedia)

Penny Arcade

Penny Arcade is a game webcomic written by Jerry Holkins and illustrated by Mike Krahulik.

Wiki sums it up: "The strip features Holkins and Krahulik's cartoon alter egos, Tycho Brahe and John Gabriel ('Gabe') respectively. ... The two characters spend much of their time playing and commenting on computer and video games, forming the basis of the humor in the strip. Most of the time, Gabe serves the purpose of the comic foil, and Tycho is the straight man. The strip can feature in-jokes that are explained in the news posts accompanying each comic, written by the authors."

Out of this week's comics, while it does dive deep into game-core territory, it's probably the best-drawn comic with the widest appeal. Plus the website is not overly clunky. Most would consider it web-comic royalty, alongside XKCD. Enjoy!


(From Guy, Wikipedia)

Unrelated bonus! Irish Barak Obama song.

Ctrl+Alt+Del

Welcome to Webcomic Week here on TOTI!























Ctrl+Alt+Del is a gaming webcomic by professional web-cartoonist Tim Buckley. Wikipedia points out that since inception, "The comic's focus has gradually shifted away from single strip gags towards longer story arcs and greater continuity." Also, Tim has been able to stay financially afloat by adding a fee-based members-only features and publishing a book. Ctrl+Alt+Del is currently updated on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday schedule.

The comics focus on Ethan and Lucas:

"Ethan currently works in a video game store called Game Haven. Lucas works tech support at a local computer shop. Scott is a freelance web designer. The other characters have jobs as well."

(FAQ)

It's super game-nerd-core, which means to understand the comics, you have to either be (physically or spiritually) a 15 year old adolescent or have lived in close proximity to one. Enjoy.

(From Wikipedia, Guy)

Mr. 4th Year Gunner

Mr. 4th Year Gunner is a parody video in the same vein as that series from The University of Maryland School of Medicine Class of 2006. 

This video, however, is from Washington University School of Medicine Class '07 (graduated in 2007). It's a take-off of those Budlight radio commercials that salute the common man, Real Men of Genius. Nice titles on this one.

Erin McKean: Redefining the dictionary

Erin McKean: Redefining the dictionary is a TED talk where lexicographer Erin McKean talks about how the paper dictionary is sooooo passé and needs a revamp. Basically she says it's too small, and we should have an inclusive dictionary that records, scientifically, the entire English language.

I know, that sounds as fun as re-filing books. But trust me, it's one of the better ways to waste 16 minutes. What's fun about her talk are the carefully chosen pictures she picked to illustrate her metaphors (and boy are there many metaphors). And they have no qualms about mixing! So try buckle your seatbelt and follow this quirky lady on her bumpy Steam-punk metaphor ride.

I always say that mixed metaphors are like a tranwreck in a sea of trouble; I guess the corollary is they do look pretty when illustrated.

(From Stef, Guy, Joshua)

Arthur Benjamin: Lightning calculation and other "Mathemagic"

Arthur Benjamin: Lightning calculation and other "Mathemagic" is a TED talk that blends lightning-speed magic and math. Ted itself was previously featured on TOTI.

Arthur's talk is pretty neat despite sounding totally lame. It's 15 minutes long and at the end he gives you insight on his jedi math mind tricks. It's still complicated to replicate accurately even after he explains how to be a math whiz.

Best part: the audience guy who gets the "recap" joke way too late. Enjoy!
(From Kottke)