Settling in during my first week back in Tennessee. If anyone has tips for how to make working remotely less isolating, I'm open to hear them. On the whole, it's great to see friends and I'm excited at the prospects of freelance work that lies ahead. Oh, and some nice announcements coming down the pipe for yk records as well. Been quiet for a minute but it's just brewing.

Enjoy these pleasantries! And many thanks to Jamie for a majority of the distractions this week, quite welcome.

• Time for Sushi - remember Going to the Store? It's back and 100x more insane.
• Guiness World Record: Team Skipping Challenge - this is mesmerizing. It looks like a Cyriak video but it's real.
• Pink Windmill Kids - I don't care if this has already made the Internet rounds, it's new to me. Awkward child show intros with dance routines rarely stand the test of time but I think this one nailed it. You really just need the first 30 seconds.
• BBC Breaking News - an amusing glitch in the BBC news system sends this intro into a tailspin. Ah, the wonders of automation. It's long and repetitive but there's a calming nature to it. Read more here.
• The Day Today Intro - speaking of weird intros. Look at this thing! I know nothing of this show and refuse to look up if it's a parody show or not. I just enjoy the absurdity.
• Title Drops - say the name of the movie. Say it! Okay. via Kottke.
• 100 People Share the Weirdest Place They Had Sex - that title tells you all you need to know.
• Frey Meyer Demo Tape - what do you do when you find a cassette from the 90's filming patrons of a Fred Meyer? Digitize the entire 26 minutes and put it on Youtube. Read more here and thank Jeremy for the heads up.

Need more treats? Enjoy this. Bad ass dance battle, albeit a short one. Or maybe you're more of a slow bridge kinda person? We got that too.

It's PRIDE weekend here in Nashville. Find an activity to celebrate some diversity and embrace it.

I've been traveling all week moving back to TN. Turns out, that doesn't leave a ton of time to encounter random, hilarious, distracting videos.

However, I hate to leave anyone in the lurch without something:

• It's Gonna Be Hot - a classic and rather appropriate for the TN humidity I've volunteered for myself.
• It's Gonna Be Hot (Tetris) - the laughing gift that keeps on giving.
• Midnight Haiti - further down but familiar.
• I Don't Need a Jacket (Remix) - further still.

I've got this Redbone sax guy on loop all day. Maybe you should too.

May we all strive to be as relaxed and cool as those two buddies depicted above.

• Seinfeld Hug Denial - it's the perfect combination of understandable and entirely awkward.
• Big Dipper - "LaCroix Boy" - I will point out that the choreography here was put together by KK Apple but there's no one part that supercedes another. It is, from start to finish, a joy.
• C3PO Wampa Gag - Two things. 1) I rarely post Star Wars related anything because, frankly, you've seen it all. 2) I've never looked up deleted scenes from any of the movies because... why? With that in mind, this is a ridiculous "gag" from Empire Strikes Back that didn't make it. It was pointed out to me that this is the only time you see paper in their universe. Bizarre.
• Mogwai - "Coolverine" - new Mogwai, new post-apocalyptic video. I love this Trevor Risk writeup on it. It's a fairly tame Mogwai track but I enjoy it none the less.
• David Lynch , Season 3 interview - Seth Pomeroy's Ultimate Funny does a great bit on Mr. Lynch. Masterfully edited and quite absurd. Actually pretty on point.
• Rock Climbing Goes Wrong - short, sweet and rewarding.
• Dad says "Huh?" - I don't know why this is so adorable but it's adorable.
• Ron Livingston Keyboard Cat - seven years ago actor Ron Livingston posted this video to his YouTube channel. It is the only thing he's ever posted. HT Reddit

I've seen a lot of FAIL videos in my day, so it warms the heart to see someone trying something absolutely idiotic and come out unscathed.

On to the distractions! Enjoy this mess:

• Redbone by Kermit the Frog - I really love the new Childish Gambino album and "Redbone" is one of the finer tracks. Hearing it sung by Kermit doesn't make me enjoy it any less. If you're interested, there's a whole slew of these variants on Youtube, some better than others.
• The Blend is Near - fantastic opening title sequence from Oddfellows for the 2017 BLEND Fest.
• Washed Out - "Get Lost" - new song / video released via Stones Throw. I love this animated collage style. Must investigate Harvey Benschoter more.
• Ultimate Hallway Swimming - I'm sure this phenomena is a solid four years old but I don't care, it's new to me. Had this been a thing when I was in school, I would have hoped to have seen it every damn day.
• Cheers Theme by Neil Cicierega - I was just talking about an alternate Cheers theme I'd like to hear and now this is released. Excellent timing.
• Pencils Laugh - 9 years ago this woman posted a slew of videos depicting a bunch of different laughs. Absolutely delightful.
• Roller Derby Alligator Pit - try to imagine the most 80's thing you can think of. Ripped dudes with insanely long hair in spandex or bonkers outfits? Check. Niche competitive sports that are likely scripted? Got it. Big Hair? Oh yea. Animals used in inappropriate scenarios? Unbelievably, yes. All this lacks is an awkward rap.
• Double Down trailer - a rather awkward movie trailer from an amateur director. If this guy doesn't end up on an episode of Outsider, I'll be shocked. This is one minute too long but those first 2 minutes, wowza.
• Worst Movie Lines Ever - it's quite NSFW straight outta the gate but there are some real gems of terrible writing and acting here.
• Super Erick - it's stupid but I enjoyed it.

There's also a 90 Minute Everything Star Wars compilation floating around if you're in the mood.

• New Plinko Record - a six minute video is going to be hard to hold your attention but the enthusiasm here is unfettered. Completely unhinged. Entirely valid.
• Chromatics - Shadow - are you watching the new Twin Peaks? This should be familiar then.
• Angelo Badalamenti explains how he wrote "Laura Palmer's Theme" - speaking of Twin Peaks, here's a fun little video of the tale behind the infamous Palmer theme.
• Adrenaline Cats - my love for Pet Collective compilations is questionable but boundless. Love these kittehs.
• Every day. Every. Darn. Day. - again, love this.
• Sea Lion drags girl into Steveston waters - everyone is fine in this clip, just a bit shaken up. The anticipation before the event occurs is maddening.
• Toby the Whippet, Guiness Balloon Popper - look at this little beast go!
• Papa Sting - Last Resort - gotta admit, this one got me good.

Need more? This kid is amazing. This We Want Plates Reddit sub is face-palmingly ridiculous.

I've really been struggling to know what to write in these little Friday Video intros. It's like the first ten minutes of a Marc Maron podcast; you don't really care what I put here because you're probably diving straight in to the goods. I don't blame you. So, because this is basically ignored text I'll tell you a few things about myself: I've been overwhelmed with work lately doing poster design, some album art and trying to get some new albums into the chute for yk records. Oh, and I'm moving back to Tennessee in June. It's proving to be a big mental load and I'm not even sure how I feel about any of it. Turns out I'm not great with change.

On to the distractions!

• Earth, Wind & Ozzys - a new summer classic mashup courtesy of DJ Cummberbund.
• I Have Seen The Future - ha ha ha, laugh all you want, this is a real development on the planet we live on. I won't lie, I'd do it.
• Sean Spicer Behind the Scenes - a quick little featurette showing Melissa McCarthy as Sean Spicer trolling around NYC on her podium.
• McDonalds Salad - the edit is subtle but perfect.
• Cross Town Kids - beautiful looking new video from Nashville's own Phantom Farmer off an unannounced upcoming album.
• Alex, Inc - a new Zach Braff sitcom wherein he portrays a version of Alex Bloomberg from Gimlet Media. This is absolute Cringe - capital C. I dare you to try and watch the whole thing. Ugh.
• Early to the Party - the antithesis of the first video. Quiet, melancholy and sadly sweet. This Andy Shauf record is phenomenal.

Oh, and if you haven't seen Super Excited Smoke Guy, get on it.

I am writing this from the past for you to read in the future. Maybe I'm on a plane right now. Maybe I've landed in New Orleans already and I'm enjoying the onslaught of sun and weirdos. Maybe I'm already on my way back. There's just no telling when it comes to time exactly when you and these words of mine are going to interact. Whenever it is, I hope you're able to enjoy the list of distractions below.

• COPS opening but with The Office theme - a mashup I can fully endorse.
• Fish on Balloon - what is this and where can I find the ten hour version?
• MindHorn trailer - Julian Barratt in an absurd Netflix movie? I'm in.
• David Lee Roth, Vocals Only - you know what? This still gets me.
• Still Life - Fruits; deflating and inflating. Bizarre, surreal and entrancing.
• The Great Dictator Speech - watch this. Soak in every word. Watch it again. And again. And play it for you anyone willing to listen. It's unbelievable how relevant, contemporary and inspiring this speech still is. And maybe a bit sad.
• GenderMess - a ten-minute short film on the Australian alt-Drag company of the same name. I don't typically post such lengthy pieces in Friday videos but I'm going to Bushwig in NOLA this weekend and am ready to see the weirdest of the weird.

History of the Entire World, I Guess - got 20 minutes to catch up on the history of our planet? Here you go.

As often happens during busy work weeks, I didn't have much an opportunity to be inundated with humorous and bizarre videos. That is to say, selections are slim this week but I think you'll still find them entertaining. Or at least they'll serve as a proper distraction to the world around you.

• Find someone who loves you as much as Diego Luna loves Jabba the Hutt - a collection of clips in which Diego Luna confesses over and over his fascination with the texture of Jabba the Hutt.
• The Sounds of Lil Yachty - the YouTube Haiku subreddit often finds that perfect balance of complete stupidity and legitimate entertainment.
• Ariel Pink - Put Your Number in My Phone - I'm not intimately familiar with the massive catalog of Ariel Pink but this seems like a fine introduction to his delightful pop wrapped in something rather unsettling. He's the David Lynch of pop to say the least.
• Christeene - African Mayonnaise - speaking of unsettling, Christeene is an Austin-based Drag Queen that seems to embrace a Cro-magnon kind of style. This video is a lot to take in but I won't deny my enjoyment of it. Particularly the Scientology bit.
• Trapped in a Prism - repost from last week but I still haven't figured it out and I still like that I haven't figured it out.

I dunno why it's not on YouTube but this Stevie Nicks Fajita Roundup SNL sketch is worth your time, even if it's not embed friendly.

If you're around the Nashville area this weekend, go see Jay Leo Phillips and Tower Defense play at The 5 Spot. Jay's only played one previous show and it was a spectacle. I imagine the follow-up will be even better.

Enjoy some silly distractions!

• World's Fastest Perfect Bowl - just 86.9 seconds and he scores a perfect game. Love that lane shuffle.
• Burger King Fantasy - Darius Rucker wrote a legitimately sweet song about fast food 10 years ago, never forget.
• Bob the Drag Queen "Crazy" - this goes through a number of changes and it just gets better at every turn.
• Cockadrummer - absurd, stupid and right on target.
• Trapped in a Prism - the Internet is a weird weird place.
• Hey Ya! but everytime they say 'Uh' or 'Alright' it gets faster - stupid.
• New Order - The Perfect Kiss - I don't care that I just posted this two days ago. How often do you encounter a 10 minute music video worth watching multiple times? Almost never! Soak it in.

If you're around the Nashville area this weekend, go see Jay Leo Phillips and Tower Defense play at The 5 Spot. Jay's only played one previous show and it was a spectacle. I imagine the follow-up will be even better.

Enjoy some silly distractions!

• World's Fastest Perfect Bowl - just 86.9 seconds and he scores a perfect game. Love that lane shuffle.
• Burger King Fantasy - Darius Rucker wrote a legitimately sweet song about fast food 10 years ago, never forget.
• Bob the Drag Queen "Crazy" - this goes through a number of changes and it just gets better at every turn.
• Cockadrummer - absurd, stupid and right on target.
• Trapped in a Prism - the Internet is a weird weird place.
• Hey Ya! but everytime they say 'Uh' or 'Alright' it gets faster - stupid.
• New Order - The Perfect Kiss - I don't care that I just posted this two days ago. How often do you encounter a 10 minute music video worth watching multiple times? Almost never! Soak it in.

To keep things fair and balanced, here's an embarassing cat leap gif to go along with that silly pup. We're all silly animals.

Tomorrow is Record Store Day - please try to find some time to celebrate your local brick-and-mortar shop; they'll appreciate it. Granted, it'll probably be a madhouse there tomorrow but that's part of the fun. Oh, but just don't buy any Spaceman 3; they'd appreciate it.

• Hans Zimmer - Live at Coachella - it's a slow swell but this gets way more rockin than you'd expect from ole Hans. Love it.
• Naked Tickle Me Elmo - meant to share this last week but didn't have a good video version. The skinless Elmo is a real treat.
• Embarassed Bull Mastiff - Honestly, everyone involved here should be embarassed. Adorable.
• UFC Glitches - I have zero interest in UFC or UFC games but I do have interest in game glitches in which the characters look like a bunch of idiots. There's a ton of these on Youtube but most come with some unbearable commentary, this one is short, simple and speaks for itself. But, please, treat yourself to this one for real thrills.
• Communications-Based Train Control - not a silly or weird video, just an insightful one about how impressively old the NYC MTA is. Just give it a scrub to see how antiquated the equipment is.
• Subway Race - I think this is actually from 2012 but it's new to me. Dude runs from one subway stop to another.
• Queenstown Downhill Sled - if you make it to New Zealand, please partake in this bonkers downhill sled activity and report back exactly how terrified you were. Can't wait to hear about it.
• Seagull - sometimes you just need a simple moment with a seagull.

I couldn't resist the Pepsi / They Live mashup gif. Maybe it's a little on the nose but I still enjoy it. Alternatively, you can enjoy Shaq dunking an Oreo if that's more up your alley.

• Uncle Skeleton "Jeux" - if you didn't catch it yet, there's a brand new Uncle Skeleton video from his latest album Cocoa Beach. Many thanks to MKAV for creating it.
• Do I look like I know what a JPEG is? - I won't try to explain it but this five seconds is perfect.
• Bootleg Bart - do you know the Bootleg Bart Blog? A repository of unofficial Simpsons ripoffs? Well, the site has it's own intro trailer. I can't remember the last time I read a blog that had its own trailer. Maybe never.
• Missles in Iraq - drain the swamp, amirite?
• Spoon - Hot Thoughts - nothing too crazy here except a well edited, 80's VHS'ed live performance. For some reason, parts of this song remind of this AIR remix.

Today's the last day for Kevin Sheurs at VHX. He's our CTO and has been with the company since day 1; helping to build the entire infrastructure of our platform. It's lamentable to see him go but I'm excited to see what he gets into next. Follow him on Twitter, he's always got some interesting insight to share.

But enough of the schmaltz - on to the videos. A short one as I spent the previous evening sending Mr. Sheurs off in grand fashion.

• Double King - an original animation by Felix Colgrave. Give it 30 seconds and you'll be hooked for the remainder of the flick. It's unbelievable one person did this.
• Our Heavenly Bodies - I mentioned this previously but I'm going to see Coupler play in Philadelphia this weekend perform a live score to this 1925 silent film. Sounds pretentious but I am confident it will be stellar.
• Rick TV - another combo Rick & Morty / Paul Robertson animation. Stellar work, even if you don't know the show at all.
• Epic Puppy Sneeze - you know what's coming and it's still baffling.
• Datamoshing Test - welcome to your new nightmare. Nice.

Videos below. I'm just working for the weekend these days.

• Broken Social Scene "Halfway Home" - first new BSS song in seven years. Good to see them back. New album this summer.
• Shot on iPhone 6 - we live in a weird weird world.
• Skyway Man "We Both Have Nothing to Fear" - I mentioned it before but this performance from Skyway Man is great, don't miss it.
• Fargo Season 3 Trailer - I'll be honest, I have not watched this because I want to go in stone cold ignorant to the new episodes. I know enough already to be intrigued but I'm sure you'll enjoy watching this.
• Rick and Morty 8-Bit Vision - how did I miss this Paul Robertson animation for Adult Swim? Better late than never.
• Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri - red band trailer with plenty of cursing but Frances McDomand is amazing. Normally I'd shy away from this but it's legit amusing.
• Rayne meets a "Robot" - c'mon folks, this is just adorable. A hot water heater has never felt such kindness.

I was tempted to post these bonkers supercuts but they vary wildly between true amusement and grueling stupidity. So maybe they were perfect?

For whatever reason, I got the phrase "Heavens to Murgatroyd" stuck in my head this morning and then discovered it was originally coined by Bert Lahr (the Cowardly Lion) in Meet the People. Also, it has no meaning. One surprising fact mixed with one less surprising fact. Here's some more fiddle faddle for you:

Enjoy!

• Heavens to Murgatroyd - Exit, stage left!
• Hi Stranger - a delightful animation from Kristen Lepore. I can't even articulate why you will love this but you will.
• Ten Meter Tower - regular people like you and me face the idea of leaping from a Ten Meter Tower (33 feet). Maybe you've seen this already but, if not, I implore you to watch the whole thing.
• The Most Unsatisfying Video in the World ever made - you know those top down cooking videos you see everywhere? Yea, this is that but all mistakes. Love it. via Forest.
• Tomorrow's World from 1982 - an engaging description of brand new video technology that is hysterically outdated looking at it now.
• Windows 95 Startup Sound Slowed 4000% - just put this on and zone out. Perfect background sound. More here.
• Frog Cell Division - According to this article, this video is not a 3D animation. This is a custom microscopic view of a frog cell dividing over the course of 33 hours. Leaves ya speechless.

I never really know what to write in these Friday Video summaries. Do I point out the best posts from the blog this week? Do I tell you about yk records happenings that you may have missed? Do I rattle on about the weather? (It snowed this week). Or do I make up some filler text about not knowing what to write just to occupy the space?

Enjoy!

• Olly at Crufts 2017 - a 10-week old Jack Russell has a blast at a dog show. Lots to love here - the ramp leap, the total face plant and the announcer having the time of his life.
• Mint Royale - Blue Song - when Edgar Wright's trailer for Baby Driver came out, I became aware of this music video he directed some years ago featuring a load of British comedy greats. New to me.
• Billy Eichner Hijacks a Strangers Tinder - I've watched this, in its entirety, twice. It's great.
• Alexa Skull - a hack I'd like to see more of.
• Helicopter Rotor Frame Rate - lovely bit of technology pairing here matching the framerate of the camera to the rotation of the helicopter blades. The mismatch inverse is also quite entertaining.
• 2017 Minnesota State High School All Hockey Hair Team - the title is a mouthful and the video is 8 minutes long of passionate insights on sports hair. I couldn't get through it all but I must respect the earnesty.
• Everything - this is cheating a bit because I already posted about it but if you have not immersed yourself in the new trailer for David O'Reilly's latest project, take the time to do so now.
• Everything, Ep 15 - it's been many years since I revisited the Jason Whetzell, Danny Jelink created series - Everything - but it's still good. The Juicer sketch in this one is so good.

Can't stop watching this. It's too hard to pick a favorite part. And this GIF compilation needs your eyeballs on it. Stat.

Part of me wants to investigate just what is happening with that glitched out, somewhat terrifying, A Few Good Men GIF but I also feel great just letting it exist as a bizarre treat from the Internet.

Much of this weeks playlist comes from Hinman Hyperlinks - small batch, hand curated, artisanal hyperlinks. It's actually a thing. Sort of.

• Kazoo Kid: Trap Remix - if it's been awhile since you enjoyed this, revisit it. It's a true Internet Classic.
• Doggo Does a Speak - this is far longer than I expected.
• How to do Chores: 2016 - an apt summary of last year.
• News Anchor Parenthood - its funny, then it's funnier and then it's awkward. via Falfa
• Pizza Hut High Tops - on the face of it, this isn't all that wacky. Funny concept and not so entertaining delivery. Until you realize the shoes are real and we live in a world where you order pizza from your shoe.
• Gin No Sara: Dance Commercial - do you know Gin No Sara? Well, watch this commercial and see if you can determine what it is they do. Let me know if it hits you before the end card. When you're done, please, seek out more.
• Japanese Commercial Time: 2016 - these kinds of compilations can be cumbersome because of their length but bounce around a bit, enjoy the oddities within. Japan really has their commercial game on lock.
• Kazoo Kid: 5 Hours - I'm curious, how much of this can you take? 3 minutes? 20 minutes? 4 hours?

I loved this but could not find an embeddable copy - so just be sure to enjoy on its own.

Some weeks I'm not quite confident that I have enough quality distractions to provide for a worthwhile Friday Videos compilation. Some weeks I'm excited to get them all into a list to enjoy them myself. This week is the latter, not the former.

Enjoy.

• Ethel Smith - Tico Tico - start to finish, this is mesmerizing. The acting at the top is great and the organ playing is next level. Next planet even. Then it turns into an all out jamboree. Love.
• Chewbacca Overreacts - I shy from Star Wars material most of the time but this one got me just right. via Falfa.
• Bohemian Rhapsody: Hand Farts - yep, you read that right. And, yes, there are tons more.
• Dream a Little Dream of Me: Theremin - sometimes the dreadlocked guy in the Super Mario Bros shirt will surprise you with a heart wrenching theremin song.
• Jaden Smith Blows Your Mind - I can't tell if this is meant to be a joke or meant to be Art (capital A).
• Gordon Cole eats a Donut - is there a 10-hour version of this? I need it.
• PWR BTTM - Big Beautiful Day - looking forward to the next full-length from PWR BTTM and this video just adds to that interest. It could be chalked up to your standard grunge rock song but there's a mild pathos to their delivery that I can't deny.
• Lasagna Cat: Sex Survey Results - this really warrants its own post because it is such a massive undertaking that it's hard to appreciate in a playlist of weird videos. It's four hour long featuring phoned in results from a survey about sexual partners and actually changes over time. The sun sets, the lighting changes and the mannequins slowly become more and more warped. It's unbelievable how much work was put into this. And the very end takes a massive turn into something else entirely. Something NSFW and maybe Not Safe For Life (aka disturbing). via Robert.
• Megaplex End Credits - what's Megaplex? It doesn't matter. Just enjoy the credits starring every single actor and character you could hope to see at one time. via Lee.
• Guy destroyed after walking dog - perfection.

Happy that the Skyway Man record is out in the world, streaming everywhere. If you're in Nashville, please get yourself to the release show. It's going to be something special.

• David Lynch's La La Land - a masterful edit, though shouldprobably be even weirder.
• Trebek Raps - a whole category rapped by the infamous host. The music edit is pretty great too.
• Skyway Man - "Plane" - i keep watching this because it's such a bizarre, silly video paired with a song about a plane crash.
• "My Weekend" - I don't know what this is and I don't want any context. Maybe it's a cult, maybe it's a group of broken individuals working some stuff out or maybe something less nefarious but I don't want to know. Ignorance is bliss. Pure bliss.
• Black Holes - it's 11 minutes but worth the full watch. Absurdity abound: "It chronicles the journey of Dave The Astronaut and his partner, an intelligent melon, as they embark on the first ever human mission to Mars." So good.
• Magnificent Ambersons End Credits - Orson Welles narrates the end credits to this 1942 film. Can we bring back this style? via Austin.
• A Tribute to Peter - recently, Peter McArthur announced his departure from Vimeo. He's been with the company since the very beginning. This video compiles his ambient videos with this nonsense tweets - even if you don't know the guy, it's a peacefully hilarious viewing.

Lastly, please enjoy some Republicans getting their shit wrecked by constituents, it's wonderful.

I don't know what it is about that GIF but it embodies the perfect amount of energy and absurdity. You might even call it the ultimate gif. :troll:

There's a few weird videos sprinkled in this week, hope you're okay with that.

• death's dynamic shroud.wmv RARE EMOJI COLLECTION - everything from the title to the hynoptic, lo-fi, nature of the presentation is mesmerizing. Give a full 2 minutes and 30 seconds before you make any judgements.
• put_that_there.mpg - this is an honest vision of the future we are embarking on now, sent directly from the past.
• Skyway Man - Plane - from the forthcoming Seen Comin' From a Mighty Eye, out next Friday (Feb 24th). Enjoy!
• Advice King: Episode 4 - not my favorite of the four existing episodes but still damn funnier than a lot of things out there. Thank you Crofton and crew.
• Beyonce's Illuminati Performance Breakdown - if you didn't see Beyonce's Grammy performance, watch it first, and then listen to this guy rattle on about the Illuminati and symbolism throughout the performance. I'm not sure he's 100% wrong but I can't even tell what amount of this is earnest or joking.
• Big Baby DRAM - Cute - this guy is crushing it for me. Feel good all around.
• Bob Odenkirk Playing Stephen Colbert Playing Bob Odenkirk - I think that title says it all.
• YMO - Firecracker (Soul Train 1980) - love me some old Soul Train footage. Love me some Yellow Magic Orchestra. Together, they are gold.