Words About Things

Unless you have been offline for the last month or so you are bound to have heard of Chatroulette. If not here is a quick lowdown: you go to the site and are connected to a chat with a random stranger on webcam (although there is a text only option). If you get bored with who you are talking to or they offend your sensibilities (this is quite likely) then you click ‘next’ and you are connected to somebody else. The possibilities are endless and you cannot control who you talk to or what they might say or do.

The video below was created by Casey Neistat and features a study he made of his experiences with Chatroulette. Other than a bit of bad language the video is safe to view at work whereas the actual Chatroulette site definitely is not. It is also worth checking out Casey’s other videos which are similarly entertaining.

chat roulette from Casey Neistat on Vimeo.

A brief clip of my new favorite stand-up comedian Mickey Flanagan. Here Mickey describes the difference between going out and going ‘out out’.

For more Mickey Flanagan action check out The [bad cider brand] Brighton Comedy Festival on 4od (channel 4′s version of iPlayer) here. Funny stuff I think you’ll agree.

You may have seen the Volkswagen viral video doing the rounds of a staircase in Sweden which was transformed into a giant piano to encourage people to use it rather than the escalator. Like me you may have wondered how the video related to VW vans and cars. A little digging brought up the site thefuntheory.com which explains:

“This site is dedicated to the thought that something as simple as fun is the easiest way to change people’s behaviour for the better. Be it for yourself, for the environment, or something entirely different, the only thing that matters is that it’s change for the better.”

There are several video so far all of which feature innovative ways to encourage people to do things which may benefit the environment. In one of the videos a bin is adapted so that it makes a sound like an object being dropped down a deep well:

The site will be accepting home made videos from next week with whoever creates the best set to win 2500 Euros. The campaign was created by DDB Stockholm to draw attention to some of the more ecologically friendly features of the latest Volkswagens.

A travel journalist for The Times was attacked by a lion whilst filming a report from inside the big cat’s cage. Charles Starmer-Smith entered the cage with the Lion’s handler who was unable to control the animal when he became aggressive. Starmer-Smith was bitten and scratched but managed to avoid any serious injuries.

Wildlife experts have expressed their shock at the video particularly at the fact that the handler alowed the journalist to stay in the cage after the lion showed signs of agression.

As for being asked to tickle its tummy, how crazy was that? Just try it at home with your own fireside moggy. More often than not you can end up with four paws and lots of sharp claws wrapped around your hand.