An Unexpected Convergence
Posted 18th July 2008 at 12:04pm by M1ke, tagged as Video | Commenting Closed
I wrote a while ago about the big freeze that happened in Grand Central Sation, New York, the video of which was posted on YouTube. That event was organised by a group called Improve Everywehre, and it turns out they have plenty more to offer. The purpose of the group is to perform random activities, some large scale and some smaller, that go against what people expect, and with the emphasis on the idea that no one involved is in contact with anyone else. For the larger events clever signals are used - in one case a man moving his hands between his chest and a bin some distance from the group, and in another the instructions have been pre-recorded on MP3.
The activity is known as flash mobbing, and has some following in Europe as well as the States. For example some folks in Prague decided to set up a first class set on an underground train - bringing in a rug, chair, table and coatstand one by one before a business man boarded and sat down at the next station. In Manchester a large pillow fight was held. I've picked out some of the best videos to link here - others can be found on the Improve Everywhere website or general searching on video sites.
The first is a large number of people gathered in the windows of a department store in New York.
The second is a small baseball game in America that the Improv guys decided to give the big league treatment - including commentators and a blimp!
This one is the first class tube train from those crazy guys in Prague.
Finally one from the folks back in Manchester - a huge pillow fight in St. Peter's square!
I'd definitely be up for something like this - maybe starting on a smaller scale with more focus, but it seems like amazing fun. I'll keep you posted!
Local Bands at the Summer Ball
Posted 13th June 2008 at 12:23pm by M1ke, tagged as Video | Commenting Closed
At our Summer Ball on Tuesday there were two great local bands playing. The first one I saw were the Small Screen Light Show, who despite most of the audience being crap were brilliant. Ruth and I showed everyone how it was done and danced the whole way through the second half of their set. We even got given free badges by the band at the end (and Ruth knew the singer from school).
The other band (whose singer came and chatted to me and Christophe outside as they spread the word so people would come watch them) were the Little Comets. Now I'd heard of these guys before, by strange means. I was cycling home from lectures before lunch time one day and got a call from Scott as I approached town. He told me that he'd been in the café in the Calman Learning Centre (fancy name for a big biscuit tin full of lecture theatres) and a band had just wandered in and played a few songs. I pretty much forgot about it after he told me in more detail later that evening, but when he saw the name on the Summer Ball events line-up he recognised it and told me. So today I searched for them on Last.fm and found their YouTube link. They seem to love playing random gigs (even getting kicked off the Newcastle Metro for it) and here's a video of them doing just that for a day out in Durham.
Buy You a Draaaank
Posted 17th May 2008 at 2:13pm by M1ke, tagged as Video | Commenting Closed
I must admit I hadn't heard the song before seeing this video, and having listened to it subsequently I feel somewhat violated. Aurally. Nevertheless, the kind of shit poo lyrics these folks spit (as the kids say) do make for amusing videos when read out by an ordinary white guy.
Should you wish to make your ears bleed, go listen to T-Pain - By U a Drank. For some reason it has the tagline Shawty Snappin' which I assume to be some form of small crocodile.
Moving Graffiti
Posted 17th May 2008 at 12:31am by M1ke, tagged as Video | Commenting Closed
Somewhat disturbing, highly impressive and more than a little Pythonesque, reminiscent of some of Terry Gilliam's more insane transition animations.
Finally, a Skydiving Video
Posted 15th May 2008 at 5:04pm by M1ke, tagged as Video | Commenting Closed
As someone who likes to have photographic or moving-photographic evidence of everything I do I've been wanting to get a video of one of my skydives for a while now. That time has come, and whilst it isn't the best video (apparently I fall too slowly so the instructor had to go below me and on his back), its a video nonetheless and its good to finally have one. I look forward to getting better ones in future, but I'm happy with this for now.
Points to watch for are my turns when Dave (the instructor) was on his back underneath me, and my canopy opening (which was unfortunately made all unfocused as we went through some mist, but you see my legs flailing wonderfully).