Urlesque

Last Shot - Stop Yelling At Us

Jordan Breindel — 2010-02-09T18:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Humor, News / Politics, Photos, Television, Last Shot

via:// Gothamist

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Jersey Shore Not Fit for Nana

Eliot Glazer — 2010-02-09T17:00:00+00:00

Ask someone who's been there: the Jersey shore is not necessarily 'Jersey Shore.' At all. Especially when someone who experienced the seaside retreat back in the 30's or 40's or 50's or something was there and it was CLEAN. In those days, ladies and gentlemen "dated," engaged in friendly dancing, and didn't sit get all hotsy-totsy in hot tubs riddled with diseases (they didn't even freaking have hot tubs!).

Sassy septuagenarian Florence Lazar was there, and she's calling bull on Snooki. You GO, Granny!

P.S. CLEAN YOUR CHANDELIER!

link:// NJ Lady
via:// Tubefilter

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"We Love XKCD" Features Neil Gaiman, Cory Doctorow, and Friends

Nick Douglas — 2010-02-09T16:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Environment-url, Commercials, Science

First the Discovery Channel had its stars sing how they love the whole world, with the refrain of "Boom de ah dah," in a happy ad called "The World Is Just Awesome." Then Randall Munroe made his characters sing the song (now with a "Boom-de-yada" - transliteration is subjective!) on his webcomic, XKCD.

Now those characters, as well as more nerd heroes and XKCD fans (including Star Trek's Wil Wheaton, Congress-reforming lawyer Larry Lessig, and blogger Jason Kottke) sang the song on a collaborative video.

And we put all of that below, plus the Discovery Channel's sequel ad.

The XKCD video tribute by Olga Nunes and Elaine Doyle

The XKCD comic

The original Discovery Channel ad, "The World Is Just Awesome"

The Discovery Channel sequel

via:// ComicsAlliance: Neil Gaiman, Wil Wheaton Reenact 'XKCD' Strip

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Darth Vader Used to Be British

Jordan Breindel — 2010-02-09T16:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Humor, Videos, Movies

To me, James Earl Jones will always be the voice of Bell Atlantic, but before his rich baritone was selling me on the virtues of a phone company that no longer exists*, he was the voice of a little-known space villain named Darth Vader. He wasn't the body, though. That was a 6'7 former bodybuilder from across the pond named David Prowse. Here for the first time (that I've seen) is some raw, pre-dubbed footage of Darth Vader and his original, decidedly whinier voice.
*under that name

related:// Top 13 James Earl Jones Voiceovers & Monologues
via:// metafilter

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OH SNAP [Yahoo! Gets Frisky]

Lindsey Weber — 2010-02-09T15:46:00+00:00

Filed under: Humor, Blogstorm

Hot from the Twitter presses, Yahoo strikes back at the newly launched Google Buzz:

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The Saula Chronicles

Drew Grant — 2010-02-09T15:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Humor, Videos, Entertainment, Niche Going, Television

I have an intense love for fan fiction, in the most unironic way possible. I was that kid buying up all those 'Star Trek' and 'Star Wars' continuation series as a child, and when 'Buffy' came out as a comic book, I bought that too.

And yet, just when I thought I had found every dark fan fiction corner of the Internet, I found the self-proclaimed "Saulas": people who pour their heart and soul into writing imaginary scenarios between Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell on American Idol. God bless them.

Do you know what a quick Google search on the word "Saula" reveals? Like a mystical creature from deep space, the phrase conjures up nearly endless webs of mysteries: ranging from Blingee graphics to videos of the 'American Idol' judges' relationship to full-out fictional recreations. It goes on forever. And it was hiding under our very nose, unlike those Na'vi fans whose forums are getting all the press these days.

Instead of mocking, I thought I'd join in. Before you judge, think, "What have I created today that brings people together and allows me to express my creative outlet towards something I genuinely care about?" Enjoy, Saula fans.

The Greatest Addiction

(Background: This scene takes place in 2008, where Paula mistakenly judges Jason Castro's second performance before the young singer actually performs. Paula is backstage, in her lavishly adorned dressing room, crying. Simon enters.)

Simon: (In typical snooty British voice) Paula...what. Was. That. That was simply god-awful. You just embarrassed yourself in front of millions of American viewers, and tomorrow the blogs will tear you to shreds. What were you thinking?

Paula: Oh god Simon...I can't keep up this charade any longer.

Simon: Your crippling addiction to pills and booze?

Paula: No, you dummy, us! Every time the camera pans over to the judges table, I can feel the entire country scrutinizing our body language, looking for signs to give away our forbidden love.

Simon: I don't know what you are talking about.

Paula: Drop the act Simon. Remember Vegas? Remember how our legs caressed and intertwined under the table while you were telling off all those young hopefuls? You can't have forgotten those passionate nights after the first seasons, when Ryan would come to us and together our union would make a holy trinity.

Simon: You are in need of some serious mental help. I honestly have no clue what or who you are referring to, but it isn't me.

Paula: AGHCZZ?? LOVEXXX.

Simon: I can't tell if you are now reading your Twitter feeds out loud or malfunctioning. Either way, you are fired...in two years.

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Time-Lapse Tuesday - Snowmageddon DC

Jordan Breindel — 2010-02-09T14:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Videos, News / Politics, Time-Lapse

This past weekend the DC Snowpocalypse blanketed our nation's capital and its surrounding areas with more than a million feet of snow. That's a bit of an overstatement - it was more like two to three - but still, that's a ton. Here are a few time-lapse videos of the storm. After you've watched them, why not make your own time-lapse of today's Nor'easter and send us a link?

See more from our friends around the web...

25 Female Wrestlers Kicking Butt

T-SHIRT WAR!

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Three-Legged Bear Walks Like Us

Eliot Glazer — 2010-02-09T13:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Videos, In Real Life, Animals

So I guess this bear has three legs and has learned to live with it, so well, in fact, that she walks around like an adult human on two legs.

The only thing that would make this cooler is if the bear had a martini in its sole paw. Because you know what they say about bears sipping martinis: IT IS THE BEST (even if it's fake).

link:// Backpacker
via:// The Awl

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'Betty White To Host SNL' Facebook Group (The One)

Kelly Reeves — 2010-02-09T13:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Blogstorm, Television, The One

When they're not proving that a pickle is more popular than Nickelback or declaring how awesome their boyfriends are, Facebook groups sometimes help a legitimate cause such as getting a father to stop smoking.

The newest group to hit our radar is an important cause that we're behind wholeheartedly: "Betty White to Host SNL (please?)!"

In the group's description, Betty White fans claim that the iconic Golden Girl should be recognized for her "eighth decade" in the show business (homegirl just turned 88!) and her achievements in acting, comedy and animal activism.

We agree! I mean, do we even need to remind you of her hilariousness? Betty is top of mind after her appearance in a Super Bowl commerical on Sunday, after all. She would be a perfect host and might actually get us to tune in to SNL for once. Not to mention, she'd help balance out the average age of this season's hosts.

Join the cause! Become a fan of the group and let your voice be heard.

Betty White to Host SNL Facebook Group

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Ladybug Tries to Fly, Doesn't Quite Make It

Jordan Breindel — 2010-02-09T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Videos, Cute, Animals

As 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.

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Hipster Puppies Not Meta, Ironically

Eliot Glazer — 2010-02-09T11:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Fashion, Cute, Photos, Animals

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!

link and pics:// Hipster Puppies
Thanks for the tip, Jenna!

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How Smelly Is The Durian? The Internet Reacts

Michael Jordan — 2010-02-09T10:00:00+00:00

Filed under: In Real Life, Food

For 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.

First of all, you probably want a close up look at this fruit. Here it is:

Craziness. You should also really read this story about how seriously illegal it is to have a durian fruit in certain public places in Asia. It includes the line "we have located the durian smell to this room, please step aside."

Of course, at this point, you're getting pretty curious about just how revoltingly stinky this fruit is. Thankfully, the intertubes has done its utmost to answer that question to your satisfaction. Some Brits give a good demonstration here:

This woman says that it "smells like sewer" and pinches her nose shut while she eats it:

But does it taste good? I refer you to Andrew Zimmern, of "Bizarre Foods" fame. Zimmern's Travel Channel show documents his trips around world, in which he eats the most revolting foods available, including giant grubs, rotting fish, goat heads, and still-beating animal hearts. How does he like durian fruit?

Yikes. This guy scarfs down bull testicles for breakfast and he can't handle the durian. In all fairness, though, a lot of people absolutely love durian. Cut to about the 5:30 mark in this video to see some people rapturously go to town on the smelly fruit:

I have to admit, I do have personal experience with durian fruit. Here's a picture of me, a few years ago, during a durian encounter:

It smelled...not revolting, but definitely unpleasant. It tasted...not awful, sort of like a creamy sweet peppery onion custard. I'd try it again, but it wasn't my favorite thing ever.

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YouTube's Best Bodies on Viral Video Film School

Lindsey Weber — 2010-02-09T09:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Humor, Videos, Sex

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?

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Star Wars Weather

Jordan Breindel — 2010-02-09T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Site of the Day, Movies

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.

link:// Star Wars Weather

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Mirrors Are Scary

Nick Douglas — 2010-02-09T08:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Movies, Mash-Ups

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.

via:// Jamie Martin

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Double Caviar Burger -- A Whopper of a Deal

Eliot Glazer — 2010-02-09T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Weird, Food

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!

via:// The Blaaahg

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Url-y Riser -- The Kitty Halftime Show, Verizon Blocks 4chan and @aplusk's 'Tooter'

Urlesque Staff — 2010-02-09T07:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Url-y Riser

Please tell me you caught THE PUPPY BOWL & the amazing Kitty Halftime Show. If not, SHAME ON YOU. See above! [Animal Planet]

A bunch of confused (and suspiciously Photoshopped) fruits and veggies!
[SheChive]

Verizon Prevents Wireless Access to 4chan. (Can you say, 'bad idea'?)
[Geekologie]

Can this Onion Ring get more fans than Justin Bieber? Can this pickle get more fans than Nickleback? Can we get enough of this new Facebook meme? (No.)
[AllFacebook]

SNL's Unaired Twitter Sketch Starring Ashton Kutcher and 'Tooter'
[Gawker.tv]

Seen something fun on the web you'd like to share? Send us a tip, tell us on Twitter, Facebook, or submit via Tumblr!

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Last Shot - Touched by a Tiger

Jordan Breindel — 2010-02-08T18:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Photos, Animals, Last Shot

via:// supertopic

See more of 'Last Shot' on Urlesque...

Dr. Phil? Do You See Your Shadow?

Fur Metal!!

Sleepy Dino

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R&R Bail Bonding -- They Ain't Mad at Ya (Even if You Are Incarcerated)

Eliot Glazer — 2010-02-08T17:00:00+00:00

Filed under: In Real Life, Marketing, Commercials

Sometimes, you need money in a jiff and you're in jail, and your friends and family just won't cut the check. In fact, sometimes, when you're in jail, you just need somebody awesome to come through and give you the money you need to get out of jail.

In need of a quick fix, you should contact three ladies named Barbara, Beverly, and Queen from Spartanburg, South Carolina's own R&R Bonding Company. Not only did they sit up a fake courtroom in a carpeted conference room (carpeting = justice), but they made a commercial to go with it.

They also say this funny thing on their website:

Are you in jail?
No one to post your bail?
Don't worry, we'll be there in a hurry.
We ain't mad at ya!

Jail-free's the way to be...with R&R Bail Bonding! They ain't mad at ya! And neither are we (depending on what you did, of course).

link:// R&R Bail Bonding

Thanks for the tip, Collette!

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Impossible Wax Lamp Should Melt But Doesn't

Jordan Breindel — 2010-02-08T16:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Videos, Weird, Art / Design, Own It

I've never met a wax candle that doesn't melt when exposed to heat. The candle that tops the Impossible Lamp is no exception, at least at first.

But where other wax candles would continue to drip and melt, the wax covered lamp shade on the Impossible Lamp remains impossibly solid, even when exposed to the heat of a light bulb. How do they do it? Watch the video to see.

link:// Impossible Lamp
via:// Elastika

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