Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 143)

In this volume of my Favourite YouTube Videos,  we question our cats, prepare for winter and get a spring in our step.

• First, let's all take a minute to appreciate that cat's don't have thumbs, because cat's are jerks and their thumblessness is really our only defence. Here Simon's Cat reacts to a door being closed, which we all know is bad news in cat world.
• Next, let's take a minute to prepare ourselves for winter (it's coming, I hear) and make sure we have the power of love to stand up to the cold. To help us, Dael Kingsmill tells us about The Snow Queen.
• Finally, let's take a minute to put an upbeat song under our wings to go on and take on what ever comes next. Mr. Smooth McGroove helps us out, with the Secret Garden Theme from Little Big Planet 3.

Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 139)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we go to war, fall in love and learn not to trust anyone with a bucket full of icy water.

• First we have Jesse Cox's Let's Play of Valiant Hearts. I found this to be a really interesting game, as it's used to explore the history and impact of the First World War. I like seeing different ways games can be used to teach and engage people and I think Valiant Hearts is a worthwhile experiment.
• Next, you should know that Pomplamoose is "All about that (Super)Bass".
• Finally, Destin from Smarter Every Day took a little science to his Ice Bucket Challenge. The primary results is that his cat is smart enough not to trust him and his son is fearless and also that thanks to sponsorship he was able to make a good donation to help research into ALS.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 114)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we take the day to give our cats the best and worst presents ever.

• First, Simon's Cat meets a spirit of Christmas terror, deals with it appropriately (I think) and then gets a prize! 
• Second, he puts his new found powers to less ... kind purposes.
• Third, he gets hold of the very best cat toy ever!

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 110)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we talk technology and learning, spiders and raindrops.

• First, on SciShow Talk Show, Hank Green talks to Professor Rick Hughes about education and technology. I particularly like the concept of the "Comfortable Consumer vs Competent Creator". I think it's difficult for students in Computer Science to distinguish between the things that are part of the underlying mathematics and logic of computation and the things that are part of the computational structure's people have created. It's also difficult then for students to know when they need to create new things for themselves and when they should use the tools that already exist.
• Next Simon's Cat encounters a spider, and comes out quite a bit better than Simon ... or the spider.
• Finally, Nataly Dawn does a beautiful cover of "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head." I think the cover is beautiful, but as a Calgarian, I'm a little confused by the song. Usually raindrops are hurled at my face by powerful wind or are snow. Still, this one makes me happy to listen (and makes me think of lemonade). 

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 77)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, Smooth McGroove takes over, because who could argue with that!

• First Smooth ... Sorry Mr. McGroove covers the Stone Temple theme from Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.
• Next, Mr. McGroove takes us sailing across the seas with the Ocean Overworld theme from Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
• Finally, we learn the secrets of Charl, Mr. McGroove's faithful and ever present companion. Don't go out in the dark if you want to be safe...

Favorite YouTube Videos (Volume 18)

In this volume of my favorite YouTube videos, we have a wide ranging grab bag. From video game music, to teddy bear tossing, to the dawn of a new YouTube star (who keeps drawing on stuff), to some four legged film makers and finally to a nerdy song about the matter of the Universe.

• Baba Yetu is the opening theme to one of my favorite all time video games, Civilization 4. Here's it's covered by ModestOne, who had done a good job making the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Another vote for why music is the most important element of video game production (well, at least I say it is). In formation about the original composer and a link to an mp3 version are in the video description (which is a nice touch).
• The next video is a bit of a departure from the norm for my favorite YouTube videos, but it's included here because it's a very important part of my life. Each year the Calgary Hitmen (my local junior hockey team) hold a teddy bear toss in which fans all bring teddy bears to the arena and when the Hitmen get their first goal of the game throw them on to the ice. The bears are then gathered up and distributed to several organizations throughout the city to make sure that kids who need a teddy bear have one for the holidays. 
• The next video is an early video from the mathamagician Vihart, who seems to get board and find herself doodling in math class from time to time and discovering the fundamentals of mathematics  You might have heard of her (or not who know how far the internet reaches). She's gone on to be an amazingly insightful and educational YouTube creator and educator. The firehose pace at which she unloads information is exciting and all of her videos will make you think about at least one thing you haven't thought about before.
• The next video is Cat Diaries: the first ever movie filmed by cats, and it is (as the title rather suggets) filmed by cats. Now say what you will about cats, they are for example lousy camera operators (their whiskers keep getting in shot), but this video is adorable and heart warming. 
• Finally we have another Hank Green song, this time about Quarks (no not the Deep Space 9 bar) the fundamental constituant of matter. Up, down, strange, charm, top, bottom. As a bonus this video also announces the unveiling of dft.ba the url shortening service that reminds you not to forget to be awesome.