Ran across this hacking gif and it serves as a nice reminder that maybe it's time to rekindle that tradition of watching Hackers every five years. Couldn't hurt.

On to your distractions. Let's start with some small morsels and drag you into longform time waster.

• Antoine Dodson Realty - the "hide your kids, hide your wife" guy is here to pitch you real estate! Honestly, just feels good to see him doing well.
• A Reason for Children - King of the Monsters
• Strange Lights Spotted in Florida - what an absolutely shocking reveal.
• Henry Rollins urges teens to expand their musical horizons - it's rare to see someone so put out by electively choosing to host an MTV show but Rollins surely regrets his decision!
• Metalhead Teens in a Record Store - a 1989 slice of life featuring Larry and Darrell. The commentary is pure gold.
• 500lb Gingerbread Winchester Mystery House - look, I don't expect you to watch this whole thing but if someone makes a 500lb gingerbread house in the form of the Winchester Mystery House and it's historically accurate, respect should be paid.
• I'm Thinking of Ending Things - not your typical absurd distraction video but a new Charlie Kaufman movie is always reason to celebrate. Especially when it looks this good.
• Only in New York #4 - there are many of these and I can't recommend enough watching every single one.

Stay safe out there. Wear a dang mask. Don't be an idiot.

Nothing like a screen melt to remind ourselves just how much we're online these days.

I posted last weeks Friday Videos as a Twitter thread; new tradition?

Lets cut to the chase and get to the distractions.

• Matrix Reloaded Opening Night - Freeman 713 is my new favorite person.
• Tape Measure Trick - Dad YouTube is real and is this man should be their leader.
• Come As You Are (Swing Edition) - go for the terrible cover, stay for the perfect crowd shots.
• The Best Pirate I've Ever Seen - Internet Score: 10/10
• Sumo Bot Teleporation - waaaaaaait for it.
• Beaver Trilogy Part IV - a movie about a movie about a movie. Groovin' Gary is delightful and mysterious; Sean Penn and Crispin Glover are a surprising appearance.
• Never Illegally Download - a classic from the archives.
• Harder, Woman, Faster, Camera - I try not to post anything enjoyable involving DJT but this showcases his stupidity most excellently.

If you need a little bonus, enjoy this.

Stay safe out there. Wear a dang mask.

The #Bonkers tag on Giphy is prettty stellar. It's weird but it's the variety of weird that makes it so entertaining.

Hope you're doing okay. Enjoy some distractions.

• Fourth of July, 2020, Marquette, Michigan - for anyone that has pride in America; think again!
• Law and Order: Seasonal Depression Unit - absolutely perfect. This thing has so many small details that it requires multiple viewings to appreciate the amount of care put into this.
• Detroit swindle + Sax - yes please, more of this (from 2018, don't get upset about the crowd).
• Andy Samberg Reacts to Andy Samberg on SNL - the promotional circuit for Palm Springs has helped spawn some enjoyable gems like this one.
• A Black Lady Sketch Show: The Basic Ball - I've yet to dive into full episodes of this show but there are some rather enjoyable sketches making the rounds. Loved this one.
• iPod Unboxing, 2002 - I posted this earlier in the week but 18 years makes a world of difference in terms of knowing what a device like an iPod even is.
• 'Scott Pilgrim vs. The World' Reunion Table Read - this is nearly 90 minutes long but I suggest carving time out to enjoy it. It is, delightful.

Stay safe out there. Wear a dang mask.

Woah, been a minute since the last Friday Videos! Sorry about that but, also, not sorry because my life is extremely busy these days and there's not a lot I can do about it. I hope you understand.

But I digress! The above GIF is from the wonderful new Modern Feminist Lyric Video, which you should watch but has no relation to the distractions which follow.

And here they are.

• Banksy's Back - a short little video documenting his latest tags. I include this entirely for the music choice at the end. A total groaner or stupidly brilliant? Maybe both.
• Cleaning a Boar with a Pressure Washer - may we all know such elation one day.
• Fulblown - "Poor" - your endurance challenge for the week. The song is... mediocre (to me) but what is going on with these images?!
• Table Tennis with the Lads - everyone gets what they deserve
• Birds with Arms - more of this, please
• DJ SHAQ - downright delightful. A perfect edit.

Stay safe out there. Wear a dang mask.

Back with another dose of distractions. Can't believe it's almost July but I suppose time is both flying by and crawling at the same time. As a kid, I always wondered how memorable the year 2020 would be and, turns out, it's really making a name for itself in the history books.

Hope you're safe, hope you're sane and hope you're able to enjoy some distractions.

• Nine Inch Nails - Closer But It's Funkytown By Lipps Inc. - a cursed mash-up if ever there was one and, honestly, it's kind of great.
• Skull Trumpet [HD] - this has been available since 2018 but it feels new to me. YouTube's greatest video, now in 4K.
• Dear Class Of 2020 - John Mulaney - a commencement speech I can get behind.
• Friday I'm in Love [Bardcore] - did you know there's a whole genre of re-inventing modern songs as if they were performed by a Bard? Let Bardcore into your life.
• Baby Driver Opening Scene but with cowboy bebop theme playing instead - never seen a single episode of Cowboy Bebop but this works.
• British Politics, Man - when it's done right, it's great.
• Super Star Kid - :chefskiss:
• Nine Inch Nails - The Perfect Drug But It's We Like to Party by Vengaboys - endurance challenge; how much can you endure?

The above image has nothing to do with anything but it lieu of a Friday Videos post, I thought you might find it entertaining.

Frankly, finding and compiling amusing videos is not just something my brain is geared for at the moment. You can not look at any form of social media without being confronted with absolutely abhorrent examples of police brutality. For people of color, it isn't the least bit surprising. For me, it's sickening.

I stand with the Black Lives Matter movement. I stand with the protests. I even stand with the rioting. While I am certainly not in favor of anyone getting hurt, I don't believe anyone was willing to pay attention without a bit of revolution. There are plenty of historical examples conducted by white people to back that up. I certainly stand with defunding the police as well.

But I'm not trying to pat myself on the back or tell you all what a good person I am for aligning with this. We all should be. It should be devastating to learn that someone is not. I'm trying to listen, to learn and to alter my own behaviors to uplift those marginalized voices where I can.

If you have not; please consider becoming an ACLU member. I know clicking that "recurring donation" button is hard but they are doing fantastic work. Give to your local Black Lives Matter chapter. Contribute to Bail Funds. Find any organization that needs your money and help them accomplish their cause.

Then consider that Just The Beginning. That's how I'm approaching this and I hope you do, too.

I keep thinking about this tweet. All day, every day. I feel this, a lot. Hopefully others understand but it really stresses me out!

In other news, I suggest you join this mailing list if you want an early treat for your ears.

Managed to squeeze in a bunch of graphic design this week and it was a welcome change from writing documents and putting out fires. Give it a try sometime!

On to the distractions!

• Ween, Buckingham Green on Public Access - the above GIF is taken from this Ween performance. I've posted it before and I suspect I'll post it again. They seem coked out of their minds and it only gets more ridiculous the more you watch. I suggest watching the whole thing.
• Why Dogs Stick Their Heads Out Of Car Windows - honestly, I just found this interesting.
• Johnny Lee "Looking For Love" - I recently watch Urban Cowboy, a 1980 film starring John Travolta in which the two main leads are absolute assholes and empathizing with either one is nearly impossible. But this song (and soundtrack) were great.
• Mac Tonight, 2007 - did you know that McDonald's revived Mac Tonight in 2007 as a CG character for ads in Southeast Asia? It's not great.
• Why Some "Remastered" Music Videos Look Awful - again, just interesting.
• Name a Famous Cracker - nailed it.
• neutralmilkhotel.mp3 - it got me.

Are Friday videos every other week now? Am I on the SNL Quarantine schedule? Maybe. I'm just trying to pump these out as I have time and material.

Do me a favor - go listen to this and then enjoy some distractions.

• NIN - The Perfect Drug But It's We Like to Party by Vengaboys - this is an endurance challenge if I've ever heard on. I wish you luck.
• Bring back the f**king Quaalude! - is this John Goodman's character from Treme? Hard to know. It is definitely a rant of a man who has done too many quaalude's, that's for sure.
• Deadliest Animal Comparison: Probability and Rate of Death - this is the most dramatic presentation of infographics you will ever see.
• Barrel Fit Ad - this ad features the music of You Drive, the collaborative project between Makeup and Vanity Set and Jasmin Kaset. What is this ad for?! I can not tell by watching, at all.*
• A two-year-old's solution to the trolley problem - nailed it.
• Trixie Mattel - Watching My 10 Year Old Makeup Tutorial - I dunno if you're a Trixie fan but I found this whole thing to be delightful.
• Saxquatch - Tequila - sometimes a quick dose of Saxquatch is all you need to improve your day.

* it's clothes, I get it. But it's also quite ambiguous, you gotta admit.

You may be asking yourself - what's up with the lack of Friday videos last week? Why isn't my tiny dose of blog entertainment coming on the regular schedule I am used to?! I hear you but, frankly, I've been underwater with my job, my side projects and trying to actually give myself some space to relax offline.

That said, I hear you. I'll do my best to use that offline time to find plenty of stupid stuff to watch. Such as the following.

• X Æ A-12 First Day at Summer Camp - did you know Elon Musk comes from Emerald Mine money? Maybe that will help explain his complete disconnect from reality, for better or worse (often worse).
• Jon Drinks Water - not a very exciting video until you look at the complete archive of 9,000+ videos of... Jon drinking water. Great use of Internet right here.
• Conan Gives Lizzy Caplan A Haircut Over Zoom - nerve wracking haircut with Lizzy Caplan.
• Bang Cut Fail - same idea, quicker dose.
• X Æ A-12 First Day At School - this meme will be short lived but I'm enjoying it for the moment.
• X Æ A-12, Say My Name - see!? Good stuff.
• Henry Hoover - legitimate good use of Internet.

Not exactly a funny video but this New York Christmas, 1976 piece is 20 minutes long and brings me great comfort. Maybe it will for you, too.

Stay safe out there.

When I need a pick-me-up, I think of this D. Striker video. The man's got moves, plain and simple.

Without getting too Livejournal-y on ya, I have been absolutely buried the past few weeks. When my day job went into self-isoation for the whole company it amped up communications across the board 1000%. I am not sure if this is the result of people that normally don't work very hard finding themselves having to put in a true 8-hour day or if it's a result of not being able to lean over to a co-worker and just ask a question. Probably a combination of a lot of things but, regardless, it's been stressful. That said, it's a very privileged stress and I am happy to be gainfully employed.

Emotions aside, let's try and get distracted.

• Michigan anti-quarantine protest? - starts with a bunch of idiots, ends with the perfect idiot.
• Coffin Rave - I am proud to understand the multiple levels of meme happening here and that guy deserves more than just a pinch on the nose.
• Corona Handshake - I hope the video is staged. I hope the video is staged. I hope the video is staged.
• Quarantine Time - time well spent I'd say.
• Photoshop Requests - James Fridman entertainment.
• How Hamsters Fit So Much Food Inside Their Cheeks - wild stuff here. not even kidding.
• What Cheese Are You? - I shouldn't laugh. I shoudn't laugh. I shouldn't laugh.

Stay safe out there.

Lots of PSA's floating around to remind everyone to keep social distancing. Julia Louis-Dreyfus did one, Larry David did one, Schwarzenegger did one with donkeys. Several countries are talking about relaxing the quarantine rules but I hope everyone is keeping it smart and staying in. It is, obviously, difficult to maintain the quarantine but please do keep in mind that the alternative is death - maybe not for you but potentially for others.

And on that light note! Here are some videos.

• Climb Around a Table - you know, Quarantine activities or just regular everyday activities
• Backward Hippo - Zefrank - simple and brilliant.
• TNG Blooper - makes for a great GIF, too.
• Taco - Puttin' On the Ritz (Live, 1983) - I've always loved this song and this bizarre lip sync performance only validates that.
• Gorillaz - Aries - given that Peter Hook guests on this track, it should be no surprise it has a real New Order feel.
• Tricolored Bat Eating - i found this delightful.
• TheFoodReviewer - 2014 - Never forget.
• Shieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet - Clay Davis never sounded so phenomenal.
• Disco Cat Stroll - total swag.

Stay safe out there.

Let's not talk about COVID-19 or self-quarantine or any of that. Let's focus on what's important right now. My Apple laptop with a butterfly keyboard is really miserable and types three "L's" for every one time I press the key. It's insane! How did this happen? Is this where we've gotten in the technology space, we're just bad at keyboards now?!

Alright fine, that's not really important (though, I promise, it is annoying). I hope everyone is safe and following orders to stay inside as hard as it is. Scary and sad times out there, please do your best not to contribute to socializing.

Here's some dumb stuff.

• Drive to Work - sad but nice to see an Austin Power's meme make a comeback.
• Watch Out! - see, told you it was making a comeback.
• Cyberpunk is Now - speaking of stupid technology.
• Bob Odenkirk Playing Stephen Colbert Playing Bob Odenkirk - this is 3 years old but completely new to me. Perfectly Odenkirk.
• Beluga Whale Meets Penguin - look, I know times are tough out there but this is delightful.
• I Miss You, Batman - I don't even get this joke but I still enjoyed it
• Slider Make You Lose Control - oddly, I actually understand this one slightly more while still being completely confused and delighted. It's a real maelstrom of emotions.

Thank you /r/youtubehaiku for being a constant source of idiotic content. Oh, and if you have anyone in your life that is not convinced that COVID-19 and The Flu are different, please send them this VOX video; as it does a wonderful job of explaining things with science and not involving anything slightly political; so there's no room for argument. Unless you don't believe in science; which I understand is a problem some have.

Take care. Talk soon.

Here's a Baby Hippo for you... because no matter what hardships you're going through right now, you will feel some relief by viewing this little guy.

Speaking of breaks in the clouds, did you read this history of the Triscuit name thread? It's wild and Triscuit confirmed the origin! Fantastic.

Here's some more distractions. Hope you're staying healthy.

• Pygmy Baby Hippo - I'll do you one better than the GIF.. here's a video of a baby pygmy hippo. Cuteness cranked to 1,000.
• All Gorilla Glue Ads but Perfectly Cut - a world of difference when you cut away.
• The Pain of Julian Casablancas - an awkward interview with James Corden made extra delightfully awkward with a wonderful edit.
• Curb Your Boris Johnson - a quick reminder that Idiocracy reigns supreme.
• The Most Interesting Man in the World - we're living in a time of fascinating creativity.
• Can I Pet that Dog? - Still not over this. May not ever be.
• Drunk Shower Singing - still not over this either and it's been around for years.

Missed Friday Videos last week because, frankly, things have gotten quite insane over in my neck of the woods. We're safe, keeping it healthy and keeping it quarantined. For whatever reason, when Vimeo enforced their Stay At Home policy, things really heated up. Is this true for anyone else? Has productivity and email volume gone through the roof?

Aside from being work overwhelmed, I feel a little down in the dumps about how all this is impacting so many folks I know. I won't bore you with the emotional details but it's rough out there and I'm doing all I can to help out. Please reach out if you need help, people want to help.

Embedded above you will, hopefully, find a sliver of enjoyment and distraction from it all. Stay well.

• Can I Pet That Dog? - I have watched this 1,000 times. It is more rewarding on every single replay. If you need a respite from the madness, let this Country Child be your beacon.
• How Soap Kills the Coronavirus - okay, a brief PSA on why hand washing actually works. I would assume this doesn't need to be said but there's plenty of idiots out there that still don't get it.
• Hugh Laurie's Kitty Puss - maybe it's time to take a deep dive into the `A Bit Of Fry And Laurie` archives.
• The Institute Trailer - have you been tempted to watch Dispatches from Elsewhere? Don't do it, just watch this movie that it is based on. You'll thank yourself.
• Will YouTube Ever Run Out Of Video IDs? - I've been fascinated by the Tom Scott archives lately and this one is especially nerdy but all the more satisfying for it.
• Drone Talking Dog on Walk - the future we have to look forward to.
• Mr. Worf, Fire at Will - hopefully this is a sign that more people are trying out Final Cut during their time indoors.
• Cat sounds like a Laser Beam - the content you come here for.

One more for the road - Big Baby by Whitmer Thomas.

Tough week here in Nashville; hit by a tornado on Tuesday morning, coronavirus confirmed one county over and Trump is visiting the city to scope the damage. Oh, and Joe Biden won our Primary Election. If ever there was a time for the world's biggest Facepalm, this is it.

But we move ahead! Here's some fun distractions.

• Cut for Time: Love is Blind - if you haven't watched the last John Mulaney hosted SNL episode; treat yourself this weekend. Pretty much every sketch is enjoyable, even those cut for time.
• Hot Ones: Pete Davidson - if you've never seen someone massively suffer on Hot Ones, here ya go. If ya hate Pete Davidson, double bonus for you.
• R Stevie Moore with Dave Gregory - maybe not the most compelling video to watch but Dave Gregory was a primary member of XTC and this track even pays a little homage to that band with the same drum opening as "Making Plans for Nigel." It's a treat.
• Death Metal Rooster - Simple Internet Pleasures.
• Apollo 16: Upscaled and Resounded - this is a 4K, 60fps version of April 21, 1972 footage from the moon. I suggest you go fullscreen with this and let yourself be immersed in the whole thing.
• Won't You Take Me to the Krusty Krab - here's the thing. I've never seen an episode of Spongebob and, honestly, can not tell you if this clip is a funny Internet Edit or just a literal extract from the show.

Been traveling a bit this week and spent a good bit of time actually interacting with other human beings and not staring deep into the Internet at all times. It was a welcome change and I suggest you all try it some time.

But for now, some distractions...

• Bob Odenkirk's New Movie - this Kimmel sketch has a bit of a Mr. Show throwback feel to it. Always good to see Odenkirk do something utterly ridiculous.
• Hometown Hospitality with Elizabeth Warren - pretty delightful piece between Colbert and Warren, particularly the "name that billionaire" quiz.
• Tiny Mardi Gras - while floats get bigger and more grandiose, there's also a Mardi Gras with tiny floats. This is my kinda parade.
• The fake 'kitchen hacks' with billions of views - kind of love these sort of simple exposes. We all know those videos are BS but here's the legit evidence.
• Bernie Cancels Star Wars - the man knew back in the 80's what we'd need in the 2020's.
• Pink Looks For Three-Peat At Westminster Dog Show - there is something completely joyous about this dogs performance and the celebratory embrace at the end. Good Internet.
• 20th Century Fox Theme on Guitar - I hated this but I watched every second of it.

Tommorrow, Feb 29th, 2020 is a Leap Day; so be sure to enjoy that extra day.

For reasons beyond my comprehension, my day job is requiring me to format my computer today and start fresh. Something to do with policy installations and remote wiping and a bunch of other stuff that generally furrows my brow but also not something I can make even the smallest debate about. Wish me luck, formatting is the worst.

I've been doing better about not posting about every single We Own This Town podcast that is released but if you haven't heard the latest Hott Minute, Nashville Demystified and TNDP episodes, you're doing yourself a disservice.

On to the, much needed, distractions!

• New Wave Nashville - in 1983, local news Channel 4 ran a four-part series about New Wave music coming to Nashville. It's... well intentioned. It's also filled with VHS imagery like the above GIF where Nashville New Wavers are really strutting their stuff.
• The Strokes - At The Door - while not as upbeat and immediately grabbing as their other single, I was really impressed with this video. Multiple storylines across with a fantastic animation style. Loved it.
• He-Man & She-Ra Fan Game - look, I don't care about He-Man. I'm 41 years old and my nostalgia only runs so deep. However, this is a fan made game. I'm just sort of blown away this is possible.
• Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk Star Trek Deepfake - burying the lede this week, this is unbelievable.
• Dog Thing - yep, still love stupid videos and would be on board for 10 hours of this.
• A cat thinks long before hitting a dog - the anticipation is perfection.

I've been absolutely drowning in email lately. I think I did it to myself but overwhelmed is not quite the word for it. If you're waiting on a reply from me, hold tight.

That said, instead of replying to those emails I'll compile a list of distracting and enjoyable videos for you. So, here you are:

• Squeeze - I posted this previously but it requires multiple viewings.
• A24 - The Green Knight Trailer - very few studios doing horror period pieces. Intrigued.
• Is Stephen Merchant a Living Landmark? - I've been watching an awful lot of Would I Lie To You?, a British gameshow where the panel members tell a story and the competition tries to determine if it's legit or not. This is a fine example of why I'm so entertained.
• Billie Eilish ft. OwlKitty - this is done remarkably well and, honestly, improves the video 300%.
• Obamium - oh, you know, just one of those videos.
• The night Tom Noddy forever changed the world of bubble entertainment: January 5 1983 - Bubble Magic on TV for nearly ten minutes. Surprisingly enjoyable. Forever changed.

Time for Superbowl Sunday! A festivity that now regularly occurs in direct contrast to my own birthday and often goes up against Groundhog Day. Who wants to go up against Groundhog Day?! It's a fools errand, I'll say that much.

All that is to say.. sometimes an intro paragraph for a weekly collection of distracting videos does not come easy.

Here you go:

• Jaminator Toy Guitar - there are many questions to be asked here and no answers to be found.
• AMES Window - I already posted this guy but his accent is just too delightful not to share it again.
• When You're The Last Pringle in the Can - if this were a YouTube channel I would subscribe and ring the bell.
• Randy Scouse Git - for whatever reason, I find myself revisiting some of my favorites from The Monkees this week. This track has always been a treat and continues to get better every time I listen.
• Florence Pugh Eats 11 English Dishes - Florence Pugh was phenomenal in Midsommar and Little Women. She's also delightful here, eating some familiar favorites.
• Bernie Sanders on The Today Show, 1981 - I know this isn't the typical fodder for Friday Videos but it is astounding how consistent Sanders has been with his message for forty years.
• Some Nice Flutin' - nothing you haven't seen before but combined so well it deserves a play or two
• Hedgehog Jazz - would also subscribe and ring the bell here.

I'll be honest, I'm overwhelmed with email. Drowning in it. I probably shouldn't even be posting a Friday video today as I desperately need to respond to a number of people. I am unable to break myself of the addiction to Inbox Zero. That's just a little personal admission from me, to you.

Here you go:

• TECHNO DANCE! - it starts off good, then it just continues at a rate of escalation that is pleasing beyond words.
• The Times of Bill Cunningham, Official Trailer - I had the distinct pleasure of seeing Bill Cunningham at some events in NYC, riding around on his bike and snapping photos. It was such a pleasant confirmation that I was in the right place. Really looking forward to this.
• Spitfire: The Michael Jordan of Dogs - yea yea yea, you don't come here for 12 minute videos but how bout you jump to 1:15 and try to tell me you don't love seeing a dog leap further than any dog you've ever seen leap before in your entire life.
• Negative Space - again, not your standard 30 second nugget of distraction but this stop-motion short film is Oscar nominated and quite a delight.
• Happy Birthday Cody - and goodnight