eveglass ([personal profile] eveglass) wrote2010-02-07 11:51 am
Entry tags:

Grab bag of links

I know, I know. It's been way too long since I posted one of these. In fairness, my "to post" folder is exploding. I'll start with the more recent and work my way backwards over the next few days.

1. Internet distractions (2-minute video) -- Funny and sad all at the same time, mostly because it's just so true.

2. The power of the pentatonic scale (3-minute video) -- For those people who claim to be tone deaf, this video will prove that you're not. Really clever.

3. The physics of space battles -- Okay, it's the future and we're fighting the aliens who have come to invade our planet (or maybe it's a civil war; who knows?). What would the actual battle look like? Here's a thought experiment that tries to figure it out.

4. The best card trick ever (4-minute video) -- Very clever, mostly involving marked cards (I assume). The actual trick starts at 1:50.

5. The size of planets and stars (2-minute video) -- Interesting way to get a sense of scale for the objects in our universe. Cool stuff. (Ignore the moral message at the end.)

6. The Muppets perform Bohemian Rhapsody (5-minute video) -- If you're one of the four people on the planet who hasn't seen this one yet, you should go watch it.

7. The illustrated man -- An article about LED tattoos. Imagine tattoos that could not only move and change but could interface with the internet! How cool! (Don't bother with the video, though. It's not that good.)

[identity profile] akitrom.livejournal.com 2010-02-07 05:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Regarding #4. It's a version of a patter trick that runs from the early 20th Century --and perhaps earlier than that. The cards aren't marked; they don't need to be.

[identity profile] eveglass.livejournal.com 2010-02-07 05:48 pm (UTC)(link)
No? Goes to show how much *I* know about magic.

[identity profile] xdaemon.livejournal.com 2010-02-08 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
Internet interfacing your tattoos... great, until some Russian spammer manages to hack you...

[identity profile] prince-hring.livejournal.com 2010-02-08 02:43 am (UTC)(link)
The fellow was rather smooth, but I caught every one of his slights on the first go-through. Every one. Sigh.

[identity profile] eveglass.livejournal.com 2010-02-08 04:00 am (UTC)(link)
Clearly, I must learn slight of hand magic.

[identity profile] eveglass.livejournal.com 2010-02-08 04:00 am (UTC)(link)
Well, no plan is perfect. *grin*

[identity profile] akitrom.livejournal.com 2010-02-08 04:26 am (UTC)(link)
One) "sleight of hand".

Two) If you're serious: http://www.lybrary.com/royal-road-card-magic-p-35.html

Three) The camera angle was unfortunate. His hands were screening a number of the moves from his audience. To catch them, you'd have to be virtually on top looking straight down. Oh, dear.

But that trick isn't supposed to be terribly mysterious. It's supposed to be delightful and funny.

[identity profile] eveglass.livejournal.com 2010-02-08 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
1. Right. Spelling has never been my strong suit. Usually I catch homonym errors.

2. No, not particularly serious. I *did* find it delightful and funny, and I have no true desire to learn how he really did it.