I'm really loving the concept behind Typecast - a tool that enables you to quickly prototype working designs with live type, powered by Google Fonts, Typekit, fonts.com and tons more. Test your readability, your typeface matches and see how it all renders across multiple devices. Oh, and then get the markup for it when you're satisfied. Gold! Slowly but surely, Photoshop is becoming the less than ideal way to put together your designs.

HT Chad

I've no idea how long this thing will last but Hola is geared up to be your new favorite browser plugin if you're the type of folk that likes to watch video via international sources. Want to check out some Channel 4 programming but keep getting hit by that pesky geoblocked message? Well, just fire up Hola and bypass the restrictions via their built-in IP masking. I assume software like this has existed for a long time but it's never struck me as quite this easy. Now that Business Insider did a piece on it it may not be long for this world but maybe you'll get some sweet realtime Olympic viewing in before it gets shut down.

great looking new Pixies video

Sean Pecknold is a name you should be familiar with when it comes to thinking about phenomenal work. His music video for The Shrine / An Argument is epic, to say the very least. He recently posted a teaser for his new project, A Nice Day for a Walk To The End, and I'm very intrigued. There's not a ton on the site currently but enough to be compelling. Where's the mailing list signup? I don't wanna miss this one.

I realize I'm "falling for" the ad campaign but I couldn't help but majorly enjoy the typography and motion graphics in this How to Say Hello, Again commercial. It's a lot of really nice type and great transitions - so sue me that it's a car commercial! These are the same people that put Chris Milk and Beck together so it can't be all bad, right?

Very drawn to the portfolio of Lauren Minco. The characters are fun and surrounded by intriguing patterns and bright colors. There's a vibrance and playfulness to the whole thing that's hard not to love.

via Dan

time to catch up with this band

Sean Pecknold

NicksplosionFX

Seriously, as you get older do the weeks accelerate? Where is the time going?? Another week, another playlist to be enjoyed.

• 1001 Movies You Must See (Before You Die) - amazing animation for a, presumably, forthcoming feature. Can you name all the movies shown?
• Fight Club minus Tyler Durden - a glimpse at Fight Club as it happened in reality. Pretty strange but I suppose that's the whole point, huh?
• The Trip to Italy - I loved The Trip and am happy to see there is a sequel. This Michael Caine joke is a bit of recycling but it's not so overdone that I'm not entirely amused by it.
• Cat Thinks Music Makes Peas - I don't care how old this clip is, it's new to me and I was in tears watching this little guys fierce reaction.
• Musicless Virtual Insanity - I actually want to see the entire video done in this style because I think it would really test your willpower. This 1 minute clip is just weird enough to be a good time.
• French Bulldog Plays With His Pups - yea, another animal clip, so what? This guy is downright adorable. Look at that playtime!
• More NFL Bad Lip Reading - for whatever reason, I'm still entertained by these.
• Press Start - what's that? 3 hours of every NES video game intro screen? Yes, I'll take it.

If you didn't see the recut Her trailer with Phillip Seymour Hoffman or this Rabbit Stampede please partake now.

Oh, and watch this Jasmin Kaset preview video! Album releases next week.

I am a big fan of Kirby Ferguson and his series, Everything is a Remix. So, I was overjoyed to work with him on his new series, This Is Not a Conspiracy Theory. The subject matter is different but his filmmaking approach remains the same - pleasant narration, lots of cuts, lots of great examples and tying ideas together. I'm also pleased to see him approaching this as a "movie released in installments." You can watch Part 1 for free but the remaining portions will be released on his site.

Very happy to have this out in the world and really excited to see Part 2 and beyond.

I spent entirely too much time clicking around the Vimeo 2013 Annual Report. Hexagons, Flat Design, Icons, Animated Gifs! It's an onslaught of color and pretty dang fun to browse around.

Right in line with the ethos Star Wars Uncut crowdsourced film remakes is this absolute gem from a collective of LA and NYC filmmakers taking on a hilarious looking Robocop Remake. I like that they cut it up per scene rather than time based segmentation. I will definitely watch this.

Lots of yk records activity lately - it's great! Roy Ira just had their Daytrotter session posted and it's quite good. I believe you can sign up for a free trial to give it a listen and I highly recommend doing so.. the bands energy is awesomely engaging.

This Face Substitution app had me in absolute tears yesterday when I was tinkering with the different available faces. I can't even begin to explain how hilarious it feels to put a Bill Murray or Mona Lisa mask on over your own face. Well done Audun Mathias Oygard, well done.

Knee jerk reaction to The Glyph is that it looks ridiculous. I can not wait to see someone wearing this out in public. Ridiculous. But, upon a little further reflection, it's kind of awesome. In terms of sci-fi informing reality and having a little personal theater for plane flights or long car rides, I could see it being advantageous. I could also see a clear version existing that augments your surroundings.. you know, like this. It's really only a matter of time, right?

Google launched this Video Quality Report mini-site recently and I'm blown away by the design. The How Video Gets To You portion is beautiful! The oddest part is that it has a bit of a slant to it that it's up to the ISP's to keep the bits flowing - taking the responsibility out of Google's hands. While this is certainly true it strikes me as odd that Google kept pretty quiet on this last round of Net Neutrality rulings - which is the entire point that this site is explaining!

enjoying this band so far

a thing that seriously exists. via @RoyIra

In one week the sophomore album from Jasmin Kaset, Quiet Machine, will be available to procure on limited edition vinyl, mp3 or stream to your hearts content via your favorite streaming destination. But why wait a week? Load up this full album preview video featuring Jasmin, members of her family and members of her band giving it a listen.

It's not a music video but a long form preview. Just as each person in the video is doing, sit with the album and let it soak in. Huge thanks to Doug Lehmann for shooting and editing it and Fort Houston for the space to film it in.