The video below is a photographer catching fire at a wedding ceremony. Thankfully, one of the groomsmen quickly ran after her to extinguish the flames and everyone started to laugh. Because, let’s admit it, people catching alight is hilarious. Especially people with dreads. Dirty hippies.

We had a [...]]]> 1. Hair on fire = funny?

The video below is a photographer catching fire at a wedding ceremony. Thankfully, one of the groomsmen quickly ran after her to extinguish the flames and everyone started to laugh. Because, let’s admit it, people catching alight is hilarious. Especially people with dreads. Dirty hippies.

We had a hippy in our fourth form biology class and the exact same thing happened to him but instead of dreads, he had a wiry afro before those became all the rage. When some unscrupulous fellow student lit his hair on fire, it had far more spectacular results resulting in a bald head and a hospital visit. I didn’t do it but I did laugh which makes me party to the crime I guess.

It is however well known that a) 14 year old boys are evil and b) it doesn’t pay to look different to everyone else at 14.

Anyway check out the vid below. Moral of the story: watch out for killer candles. They’re killer.

Photographers hair on fire from Beyond Measure on Vimeo.

2. Dumb ways to die

The vid below is gory in a childish type of way but by golly is it freaking addictive. Not in a meth lose-your-life-and-loved-ones kind of way, but the track does stick and you will have an hour of its catchiness ricocheting around in your head.

PROTIP: Sing it aloud a few times in the office. Not only will you get it out of your head, but you’ll also succeed in transferring it to others, much like a virus.

Enjoy!

3. Robot hand

I don’t ever want to lose an arm. But if I do, I want it to be the left one (I’m right handed), and I want it to happen saving a whole bunch of people. Yunno, gaining hero status and replacing that chap’s face with my own on the $50 note.

Delusions of grandeur aside, this is the Bebionic3, an advanced prosthetic so refined it can actually be used to write.

From the company’s website:

The Bebionic3 is a myoelectric prosthetic hand that uses residual neuro-muscular signals from your muscles to operate a number of precise functions. Featuring a range of 14 hand positions and grips, the Bebionic3 is also offered with a skin-tone glove that approximates the appearance of a real hand.

Impressed? I freaking am. Check out the video below of amputee Nigel showing the terminator arm/Bebionic3 in action. Its pretty awesome.

4. Playing with my friends

Why why why can’t Ikea come to New Zealand? But they have already. No they haven’t, thats’s just a shell company peddling IKEA goods for an exorbitant mark up (Its fun to argue with myself).

Anyway, IKEA have released a fantastic new ad that really isn’t an ad, yet manages to show their range of goods oh so effectively. Also the song by ‘Masters in France’, Playing with my Friends; ain’t all that bad either. Enjoy.

5. The Athlete Machine

If I was forced to divulge my opinion on the coolest brand in the world as of today, it would have to be Red Bull. I don’t really care for their energy drink as i think energy drinks in general are health time bombs waiting to go off, much like mad cow disease and the regular consumption of uranium, but by golly do they sponsor some freaking cool activities.

Thankfully they’ve assembled all of their sponsored pro athletes into one jam packed little session and called it the athlete machine.

And its good. So good that I’m not even sure why you’re still reading and not watching below. Enjoy.

This time last year, The Nightmare Fear Factory sent out a bunch photos, which were basically pics of people half scared to death by the contents of their ‘haunted house’ attraction (the building itself is the old Cataract Coffin Factory, and its original owner was killed [...]]]> 1. LOL at the pussies

This time last year, The Nightmare Fear Factory sent out a bunch photos, which were basically pics of people half scared to death by the contents of their ‘haunted house’ attraction (the building itself is the old Cataract Coffin Factory, and its original owner was killed by his own falling merchandise). Not wanting to disappoint, they’ve released a set of new pics and they’re doozys.

Personally, I can’t imagine ever been that scared in real life nor would I ever want to be (quickly touches wood), because these guys are literally terrified. I did have a nightmare the other night which was pretty bad. Basically these two women were infected with some sort of rage inducing substance which made them want to tear each other to pieces. Its was so gruesome that I needed to wake my other half up and have her rub my back for like ten minutes. God I’m such a pussy.

To check out a bunch of other pussies, check out the link here from Wired or click the image above. Today’s crack up.

2. Cannon Ball vs Car

Seen here a moment before impact, a cannonball prepares to send a car to meet its maker. In this case, Saturn.

The cannonball actually travels all the way through the car and exits out the trunk, which is pretty impressive for some horribly outdated technology. More impressive though is actually having a working real life cannon. I mean, where does one purchase a cannon from? Because I want one.

Hit the video below to check out the carnage (the slow mo destruction starts around the 1:45 mark). Enjoy.

3. The adventures of Bunker 42

I remember going to the NZ comedy festival in 2006 with some friends (and a very strange date I swear to this day was a closet lesbian). We descended down 7 flights of stairs for a show and I remember thinking what an ace spot this would be to wait out a nuclear winter. It was concrete, dark and felt like miles from the surface, just the sort of place to tuck up and wait out the radiation to settle is like, oh 25 years. The entrance is here (marked “transmission”) in case any of you are interested.

So where was I going with this anyway? So yeah, the Soviets built plenty of nuclear bunkers in the days when thermonuclear war with the U.S was all but ensured. Now they’re starting to declassify some of them and Bunker 42 is a good example of when Harry met Sally. Harry being 100′s of metres of reinforced concrete shelter and Sally being tacky Russian capitalism. Bunker 42 is now a bar that also features as a strip joint. Which is kind of genius if you think about it, placing a seedy underground form of entertainment; underground.

Check out the link here from Gizmodo or click the image above. Also a good link here from this Flickr account. So seedy.

4. Iron Man 3

So I’m a little late to the party I know, but the trailer for the new Iron Man 3 is out. What do I think? Well it looks like somebody wants to hurt Pepper Potts, which is plain wrong because she just so goddamn adorable. Brad Pitt must have been an absolute idiot to leave Gwynney, I means seriously, just look at her!

Anyway check out the trailer below. Definitely looks like Tony Stark gets his arse handed to him in this one. Enjoy.

5. September 2012 Fails

If you’re a little squeamish, then don’t click the play button. Cos there’s some shocking fails in here…

http://youtu.be/PHsgYnXjyiY

I’ve had plenty of moments in my life where I later seriously wonder about my decision making skills.

Like the time that I urinated on the side of a police car, chuckling all the while, not aware that there were police inside. Or the time that I [...]]]> 1. Bombing Ice = Busted ass

I’ve had plenty of moments in my life where I later seriously wonder about my decision making skills.

Like the time that I urinated on the side of a police car, chuckling all the while, not aware that there were police inside. Or the time that I walked across a bridge at night, on its handrail.

So I sympathise with the guy in the video below, but that doesn’t mean that I haven’t viewed it at least half a dozen times, laughing and wincing each time. I’m not sure if there was alcohol involved but I hope so, cos you’d need something to take away this serious case of numb butt.

Check it out below.

2. Some amazing photography

Still on ice, the video below is a TED talk from renown photographer Paul Nicklen, speaking passionately about his work and his workplace, the Arctic and its inhabitants.

While the talk focuses on generating global awareness about wildlife in these isolated and endangered environments, he also tells a great story about getting up and close with the much-feared leopard seal, finding an extraordinary new friend in the process.

While the talk below is worth it for his environmental message, the work he shows of the polar wonderlands he visits and captures are simply amazing. Today’s must see.

3. Natural phenomena Time Lapse

I’m a total sucker for a good time-lapse, and Reid Gower took his time to make sure this one was excellent.

Shooting winding highways and towering skyscrapers, his first time-lapse blew my mind to the new meaning of natural phenomenas.

Check it out below.

Natural Phenomena – VideoSapien from Reid Gower on Vimeo.

4. Game show fails

We’ve all made fools of ourselves, yet not all of us have had the misfortune to do so on national television. While very UK & US centric, here’s about 13-minutes worth of those moments.

Enjoy.

5. Health message with a twist

In the western world, diabetes is becoming more and more of a serious issue as our consumption of sugary drinks and fatty foods continues to rise. While we all know we should eat healthier, it is extremely tempting to grab a burger and wolf it down (especially if its 3am and you’re rotten drunk) mainly because they taste so damn good.

I haven’t seen many ads telling people to eat healthy, mainly because when they do feature, they come across as extremely preachy. However this ad from the US is different, telling the story of a family of animated bears who are addicted to eating badly and the results of those decisions. The story is no doubt taking a not so subtle shot at the Coca Cola bear family, but the message is clear, well told and the omission of audio (apart from sound effects and catchy soundtrack) allows a compelling story to be told.

Check it out below and then visit the Real Bears website for more info. Its a goodie.