Tracy Chapman covers Bob Marley "Three Little Birds" | awesome cover

Sugarcubes 1988 SNL Special Report | Crazy Band

I am always enthralled watching Bjork sing back in the day... she has always been a vocalist that leaves it all on the stage. This is an interesting and odd interview, with live snippets, from 1988.

The View From Above | Game

Here's a fun game, and oddly addictive: trying to guess which country a particular satellite image is of.

Check it out! Go to The Game.

Thx to Price Tags for pointing this out.

Robyn Adele Anderson covers Gorillaz "Clint Eastwood" in 1940s swing style

PBS Ideas Channel "Guide to Common Fallacies" | Crazy Philosophers

Ah.... logic.

For the complete playlist of the PBS Ideas Channel's "Guide to Common Fallacies" head to their YouTube playlist page.

For a hint of the fantastic wonders within... the "No True Scotsman" Fallacy...:



Thx to Open Culture for pointing this out.

Lee Mishkin's 1973 "Is it always right to be right?"

Featuring the voice of Orson Welles, Lee Mishkin's 1970 short film won the 1971 Oscar for Short Films, Cartoons. This was the last award of that category, when it was changed the following year to "Short Subjects, Animated Films."



visit Open Culture for a great write-up.

Fire is stored sunshine | Crazy Scientist

You need to watch this clip right to the end. Richard Feynman explains what fire is, on the 1983 BBC series Fun to Imagine.



Thx kottke for pointing this out.

Wes Anderson's "X-Men" (Parody) | Crazy Flimster

Orkestra Obsolete cover New Order "Blue Monday" | Crazy Musicians

Using only instruments available in the 1930s, like the theremin and musical saw, Orkestra Obsolete perform a cover of New Order's 1983 Blue Monday.

Darwin's "Origin of Species" | Respect

On November 24, 1859, English naturalist and geologist Charles Robert Darwin published On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. This work is considered the foundation of evolutionary biology.

It is difficult to imagine a world prior to the theory of evolution. At the same time, I'm surprised at the number of people that don't necessarily understand "how" evolution works. Here's an excellent video that explains the process of evolution, from the fine folks over at Stated Clearly.

Rocket stage separation footage | OuterSpaced

Thx Kid Should See This for pointing this out.

Chase Holfelder covers Cyndi Lauper "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" in a minor key | Crazy Awesome Cover

Chase Holfelder is one of my favourite online musicians. He's created a series of covers of well-known songs performed in minor key, which both subtly and drastically changes the tone and feel of the original. Girls Just Want to Have Fun is an excellent example of the effect of moving from major to minor keys.

xkcd - Margaret | cartoonz

James Last live at BBC Studios, London, 1976 | Crazy Orchestra

German-born contemporary composer James Last passed away on June 9, 2015. [BBC obit] Reaching international fame and success with his original and orchestral re-mix medleys of popular songs, he sold some 200 million albums worldwide in his lifetime.

This BBC studio performance was recorded on October 15, 1976.

Regardless of whether one thinks he was ahead of his time anticipating the mash-up or simply the "King of Elevator Music" it's undeniable he was a talented composer surrounded by equally-talented musicians. If you love watching musicians do their thing, this is a must-see.

Beowulf, in Old English | Crazy Storyteller

Listen to the prologue of the oldest epic poem in English, written between the 8th and 10th centuries, as performed by Benjamin Bagby.



It's hard to believe the words spoken are English, though in context these words were as much "English" to the people that spoke it as our "English" is to us today. The language has evolved over the centuries, with words dropped and added, with pronunciation and meaning changed, and more. Check out a quick history of the English language, in a little over ten minutes.



(visit Open Culture for further tidbits)

Celebrities impersonating celebrities on Graham Norton | Crazy Actors

The Graham Norton Show is one of the most entertaining talk shows on television.

Floppy Drive Music: Ghostbusters! | Crazy Musician

A video of 64 floppy drives, 8 hard drives, and 2 scanners -- the Floppotron -- playing the theme for Game of Thrones has been making the rounds lately. In honour of the age-old geek-musical tradition of floppy drive music, as well as the release of the all-female version of the classic Ghostbusters movie, here is the Ghostbusters movie theme ("Who Ya Gonna Call?") on eight floppy drives, by MrSolidSnake745.



And since I absolutely do love floppy drive music... here is one of my favourite covers, of Radiohead, by James Houston. The hard drive array does an uncanny simulation of Thom Yorke's voice.



For an amazing catalogue of floppy drive music, visit MrSolidState745's YouTube page. He has constructed an amazing array of tunes, from the USSR Anthem to Pharrell's "Happy".

And a bonus... the Star Wars Imperial March.

Banksy sells art in Central Park | Crazy Artist

So... Banksy set up a stall in New York's Central Park selling original, signed stencil artwork. But didn't tell anybody.

Bill Murray | Wisdom

For a contemplative day. Asked what he wants that he doesn't have, Bill Murray answers candidly and honestly with words of wisdom.

"I'd like to be more consistently here, y'know?"



(thx for the excerpt, Rustbukkit J.)

Gabriel Mayers, busker of NYC, covers The Pixies | Good Rawkin'

The BUSKRS channel offers some fantastic recordings of buskers in New York City. One of several selections from Gabriel Mayers is below, a rendition of "Where Is My Mind?" by The Pixies.



(thx BUSKRS)

In Praise of the Quiet Life

(thx School of Life)

Swiss Army Man official trailer | Movin' Pixers

This is the strangest trailer for a movie I have seen in some time. Surreal much?

UHD (4K) View of Planet Earth from NASA | OuterSpaced

New York City Transit's ancient equipment | Just Crazy

An informational video published in 2015 about the upgrades to the New York City Transit (MTA) system, including a look and explanation about the current equipment. Some of the control systems are over 80 years old...!



(thx Kottke)

How to use the dial telephone (1927) | Crazy PSA

Important instructions and pro-tips for when your own state-of-the-art rotary-dial telephone is finally available for installation in your town, kindly produced by all our friends at the American Telephone and Telegraph company!



(Thx PDR for the tip!)

Choir! Choir! Choir! cover "Ahead By A Century" by The Tragically Hip | Good Rawkin'

Oldest Song in the World, written 3,400 years ago | Crazy Ancient Musicians

The short of it: in the early 1950s archaeologists discovered 14th Century B.C.E. clay tablets with cuneiform writing in what was once the Sumarian city of Ugarit, in present-day Syria. The cuneiform turned out to be a cult hymn, and Ann Draffkorn Kilmer of the University of California produced an interpretation in 1972, which was then recorded. It's a fascinating story, which is explained wonderfully at Open Culture. It is also worth reading the detail text on the YouTube site, posted by AssyriaTimes.

Happy Canada Day! The Tragically Hip, 1989.

Thx Darrin Cappe.

Happy 35th to Raiders of the Lost Ark | Respect

On June 12, 1981 -- 35 years ago today -- the film Raiders of the Lost Ark was released.

I think a description of... well, anything to do with the film... is redundant: Steven Spielberg directing Harrison Ford in the first installment of the Indiana Jones film franchise, pitting Indy against Nazis in the search for the Ark of the Covenant. It was the highest-grossing film of 1981 and one of the all-time highest-grossing films in history. It was nominated for Best Picture at the 1982 Academy Awards, losing to Chariots of Fire but winning in four categories: Best Art Direction, Film Editing, Sound, and Visual Effects... and a fifth award, a Special Achievement Award for Sound Effects Editing.
If you are unsure about what this is... come out from under the rock for a sec and visit WP for the details. [wikipedia]

In celebration and respect for this iconic film... let's re-visit 1981 promotional featurette!

The Sex Pistols | Crazy Punks

It was 40 years ago today, on June 4, 1976 that the Sex Pistols took to the stage at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester. In the audience were future members of seminal UK punk bands and post-punk bands, from the Buzzcocks and Joy Division to The Fall and Simply Red. Even Morrissey of The Smiths was in the audience. The gig was immortalized in a re-creation in Michael Winterbottom's 24 Hour Party People. For a round-up of songs played at the show, and several additional links to concerts and stories, visit Open Culture. There are several audio/photo-only selections from the June 4, 1976 show, but let's watch the recreation from 24 Hour Party People:



Here is the infamous 1978 Longhorn Ballroom concert in Dallas, Texas... visit OC for a fantastic write-up!



And the final show of the Sex Pistols, on January 14, 1978, in San Francisco... again, another fantastic write-up at OC!



Finally, here's a photo of Sid and Johnny in Berlin, in 1977.

(thx tIC)

Yes, this is all stolen "curated" snippets. Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?

Dossier C : Crows

It's been several years since I was struck on the back of my head by a crow. My initial hatred and desire for revenge have subsided, but I am still always aware and wary of The Crows. We have reached some sort of detente, even though I know they are my Enemy, and I will never again trust them.

I think my vigilance and suspicion is justified -- after all, they drew first blood. My experience is not uncommon, as this Langara College-designed map of common crow attack areas in Vancouver indicates. [CrowTrax] In fact, the map is crowd-sourced, so if you are swooped or struck, add your experience to the map! (Thx VanBuzz for the great story about the map!)

As if we needed any reminders as to how insidiously clever and ruthless this Enemy is... here are some interesting random tidbits I've collected:

They use complex tools... even more complex than imagined: they can make tools that only humans have been known to make previously.

They can solve complex problems, involving multiple steps: this crow can solve a problem involving eight steps.



A crow's brain can recognize numbers: and counting crows' neurons work just like humans.

And we already knew: crows recognize faces... and they know where you're hiding.



Though also just like us, sometimes hard work just doesn't pay off: crow versus pizza box.



And they hold funerals. (thx Devour)



Our only defense, other than carrying around a tennis racket (which I have been tempted to do), is education. PSA: from VanCity Buzz, 8 tips to prevent crow attacks.

Mad World

Radiohead's unused James Bond 'Spectre' theme | Crazy Band

Dave Grohl drum-off versus Animal | Crazy Musicians

Ambition | Crazy Filmsters

This is an impressive science fiction short film, with great effects, produced through a collaboration between Platige Image the European Space Agency to promote Rosetta. It stars Aidan Gillen (of game of Thrones) and Aisling Franciosi. The theme explores the ambition that turns science fiction into science fact.



The amusing part is that the "making of" video is longer than the film itself.

The Icicle Works "Birds Fly (A Whisper to a Scream)" | Crazy Band

Jimi Hendrix covers The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"

There are a log of great moments here, but I think my three favourite moments of this video are (1) when Jimi drags on his cigarette before starting to play and then throws it to the stage floor, (2) Jimi plays with only his right hand on the frets while he gets a guitar pick from a stagehand, and (3) at the beginning Jimi is telling the audience to protect their ears.

29 Celebrity Impressions, One Original Song | Crazy Musician

This could have gone terribly, terribly wrong, but is terribly, terribly entertaining and well done. Musician Rob Cantor (vocals/voices, with the help of several others, as this is a music video and not a live performance) performs an original song in the voices of 29 celebrities. What I particularly love is that the theme of the song actually ties in with the use of all the voices, instead of being a simple gag or shtick: you're perfect in the way that you are.



And before anybody screams foul that it's fake and this dude isn't actually singing all those voices: yep, you're right. It's a music video. It's to promote a music album called Not a Trampoline. Remember when Michael Stipe and REM blew the socks off the music video world by not singing (lip syncing) a line in "Losing My Religion"? Same sorta thing: it's to entertain.

Check out the "making of" video, it's pretty interesting in its own right:

2Cellos cover AC/DC "Thunderstruck" | Crazy Musicians

If I have not posted this previously, I apologize. This is one of my favourite music videos, and groups, and if it wasn't posted it was because I've had it so long in my personal list, and watched it so many times, that I thought I'd already added it here.

This is from 2Cellos, a Croatian cello duo. [official] [wikipedia]

It appears I've posted their version of "Welcome to the Jungle", but not this. Despite the theatrics, I still think it's pretty cool.