Urlesque

Ladybug Tries to Fly, Doesn't' Quite Make It

ladybug flight failAs one of the only beetles that doesn't freak the spit out of me, this flightless ladybug earned my pity. She took a risk and it didn't quite work out as she had hoped. Live and learn, little ladybug. There's always another leaf to leap off.

 

Hipster Puppies Not Meta, Ironically

It's hard to say what makes a hipster a Hipster nowadays. Keffiyehs and Ray Bans could easily be read as so yesterday (so yesterday) depending on which pocket of land we're referring to (Brooklyn, Silverlake, Austin, Richmond, Brooklyn, Echo Park, etc.). But as we write from New York City, believe us when we say a hipster is not hard to find, especially considering the proliferation of American Apparel outlet stores (no, for serious).

Hipster Puppies, a site that might as well be called Puppies In Plastic Frames, does a fine job honing its focus on those pups whose animal collective of choice is the band, not the park.

Also, cuuuuuute!

 

How Smelly Is The Durian? The Internet Reacts

durian fruitFor those of you not up on your exotic (to most) southeast Asian fruits, let me introduce you to the durian. Known as the "king of fruits," the durian is a 2 to 7 lb. spiky oblong husk containing pods with seeds surrounded in a yellow custard-like fruit.

It's a notable -- and notably cool -- fruit for several reasons.

  • 1) Durian orchards are danger zones covered by a web of nets, because when the fruit falls from the tree it can strike with enough force to kill you.
  • 2) Look at it. I mean, that is crazy!
  • 3) The fruit emits an odor so disgusting (to some) that it is banned in many public places. What does the durian smell like? Travel and food writer Richard Sterling said of the durian: "Its odor is best described as pig-sh*t, turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock."

Yeesh. So, why would you want to eat it? Many people think it's incredibly delicious. Here's a quote from British naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace, writing in 1856: "...its consistence and flavour are indescribable. A rich custard highly flavoured with almonds gives the best general idea of it, but there are occasional wafts of flavour that call to mind cream-cheese, onion-sauce, sherry-wine, and other incongruous dishes. Then there is a rich glutinous smoothness in the pulp which nothing else possesses, but which adds to its delicacy. It is neither acid nor sweet nor juicy; yet it wants neither of these qualities, for it is in itself perfect."

Wow. Naturally, the internet has reacted pretty strongly to the durian. Check it out after the break.

 

YouTube's Best Bodies on Viral Video Film School

On this week's Viral Video Film School, Brett takes a long, hard look at YouTube's 'best bodies'. Tough job, Brett. From pumping iron to make-up ads, who says you can't better yourself through the power of the web?

 

Star Wars Weather

Weather is a complex phenomena determined by factors we can neither see nor feel: High pressures, low pressures, fronts, jet streams. It's filled with mystery and illusion: Clouds looks like you should be able to sit on them but you can't, and most TV weathermen are mentally imbalanced.

That's why Tom Scott's Star Wars Weather is such a great thing. Instead of confusing us with jargon, awkward comments and animated graphics, it gives the weather in terms we can relate to: The planets from Star Wars.
Star Wars Weather

 

Mirrors Are Scary

I grew up with a bathroom with a big-ass mirror and a great combination of electric and natural lighting. Now I'm in a studio with a medicine cabinet, and because of this video, I'll never go to sleep.

It's a montage of every scary person-in-the-mirror shot from a horror movie, except the Saturday Night Live one.

 

Double Caviar Burger -- A Whopper of a Deal

To all the Fancy Nancies and Richie Riches in the room, let us tantalize your taste buds with the closest thing you will ever get to a McDonald that isn't Michael or -- heaven forbid -- a farmer.

At $10,000, it's called the Double Caviar Burger, the finest dream of dirt-smeared cartoon hobos worldwide!


Let's not forget the true selling point here: THREE BUNS. THREE. Like a Big Mac, but with fish eggs that look like berries!