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)

Paris Daily Photo

Paris Daily Photo is a self-explanatory website by 48-year-old self-described "friendly Parisian" photogapher Eric. Eric explains his site:

You love Paris? You have never been to Paris but you would like a sneak preview? Then come here every day and you will find a brand new picture, taken by one of its inhabitants: me! Wish list (of photos!) welcome.

What makes the site charming are the little added descriptions of the photos and places. In particular, I like the November fifth entry:

It's a tradition that has almost never ceased since 1924: the "straw vote" at the famous Harry's Bar... The principle is simple: any American citizen (who can show an American passport) and who is older than 18 can participate in the vote. The results are posted in front of the bar (and on the Web site) every week leading up to the election until the very final moment (I took this photo at 7 pm on November 4th Paris time). The interesting part is that ever since 1924, the straw vote at Harry's Bar was wrong only twice: in 1976 (Ford/Carter) and in 2004 (Bush II/Kerry).

This concludes politics week here on TOTI. And by week I mean trio of posts. I live life on the FAST lane.

(From your eyes tell lies your mouth can never spill)

Third Grade Gay

Apparently I was the last person to see Third Grade Gay, a belligerently funny Youtube video advocating for "No on prop 8." Propsition 8, as of yesterday amended the California constitution to say that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." I think the authors of the video would agree this makes California *so* gay.

Tune in tomorrow for the conclusion of politics week here on TOTI.

(From Daily Kos)

Barack Obama wins presidential election

"CNN projects that Barack Obama will be the nation's 44th president."

This is hands down the most awesome thing on the interwebs today.

Meet in Between

Meet in Between is a site and Google Maps application that lets you know where the midpoint is between two or more addresses is. 

If you want to meet up with someone, but you don't want to drive that far because you don't know if you LIKE like them yet, plus you just lost your job from the economic turnoil and your'e kind of scrimping on everything... just punch in your starting addresses and it will tell you where the rough midpoint is.

Lest you get stuck suggesting a date in the middle of a cornfield for fairness' sake, you can click on meeting place categories: golf courses, cafés, libraries, malls, bars, and hotels.

There have been other sites like this, but unlike similar sites, this one is not ugly. I don't know how often they revise the listings.  I have to admit when I tested it out, a certain Moonstruck Chocolate Café  was listed as a meeting place even though it's closed down permanently. Overall,  still awesome.

(From Buzzfeed, The Fire Wire, URL fan)

A World Enslaved

A World Enslaved is a totally depressing article by E. Benjamin Skinner, that ran on Foreign Policy magazine. According to the article, there are now more slaves than have ever been in human history.

"Here, 600 miles from the United States, and five hours from Manhattan, you have successfully arranged to buy a human being for 50 bucks.

In the popular consciousness, 'slavery' has come to be little more than just a metaphor for undue hardship. Investment bankers routinely refer to themselves as 'high-paid wage slaves.' Human rights activists may call $1-an-hour sweatshop laborers slaves, regardless of the fact that they are paid and can often walk away from the job. But the reality of slavery is far different. Slavery exists today on an unprecedented scale. In Africa, tens of thousands are chattel slaves, seized in war or tucked away for generations. Across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, traffickers have forced as many as 2 million into prostitution or labor. In South Asia, which has the highest concentration of slaves on the planet, nearly 10 million languish in bondage, unable to leave their captors until they pay off 'debts,' legal fictions that in many cases are generations old.

...

But more must be done to educate local police, even in the richest of nations. Too often, these street-level law enforcement personnel do not understand that it’s just as likely for a prostitute to be a trafficking victim as it is for a nanny working without proper papers to be a slave. And, after they have been discovered by law enforcement, few rich nations provide slaves with the kind of rehabilitation, retraining, and protection needed to prevent their re-trafficking. The asylum now granted to former slaves in the United States and the Netherlands is a start. But more must be done."

(From Mefi)

Mr. Falls Asleep During Everything Guy

Mr. Falls Asleep During Everything Guy is yet another installment of the video series from The University of Maryland School of Medicine Class of 2006.  It spoofs those old Budlight radio commercials that salute the common man, Real Men of Genius. I'd write more but I fell asleep.

'Llectuals

'Llectuals is a comedy video by comedy group POYKPAC, that envisions what the OC (or the 'Bu) would be like if it aired on PBS. Enjoy!

(From clusterflock)