Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos, (Volume 137)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we share a pizza, get some luggage and go check out our local comic book store!

• First, Dave Bulmer, shares his thoughts about how (and why) to make a good Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. And he does it by breaking down what makes the Ninja Turtles, why the 90s movie worked in the day and what's important when you're trying to tell a story. I think it's also a good point to keep in mind when you're trying to adapt a story from one medium to another.
• Next, Dave unveils his bookshelf series (which eventually became its own channel), talks about why we should talk about the things we're enjoying and embarks on reading through all of the Discworld books. (Don't worry he hasn't gotten that far yet, so now's the perfect time to jump in). I've been kind of delighted since I started reading Discworld in order just before this and it's nice to have someone to read along with.
• Finally, the very awesome Amy Dallen sings about her comic book store (because that's where the books live, but it's also much more!). Also features a bunch of the Geek and Sundry vloggers in their LCBSes (including mine!)

Project 1: The Blog, Season Six

Apparently this is the first time I've actually written the post late, but here we are, I'm writing the "Happy Blog End and Start" post.

So Happy belated Blog End and Start!

I've been happy with the "blog as project" this year and I'm happy to do another year of it.

I think this last year has been pretty good, although it was a lot of "Favourite YouTube Videos". I'm hoping to step up the types of things I blog in the coming year and I'm hoping my new plan of "do one creative thing a day" will help with that. (It will double the number of posts on the blog at least since I'll be posting a creativity update each week.)

On the topic of Favourite YouTube Videos, I'm still really enjoying posting them since it gives me a chance to go back through and rematch all of my old favourites (since the series pulls from my own favourite's list on YouTube, remember when that was a real thing?). It's an interesting journey into two years ago and I think at the moment it's going to stay about that far behind with me posting about three videos a week.

I will also be updating the video games I've played this year. I've managed to keep on keeping track, I just need to put the posts together and I'll try to do that over the next little while. I think that's been an interesting project as well and it's made me think a lot more about what and how I play.

"Monthly" posts on what I've been playing also cut down on the number of "Video Game Thoughts" posts I've been thinking of making. There's a lot of games that I won't (or can't) finish and some that I just don't have that much to say about. So hopefully I can cut down on thinking about things that I don't want to spend too much time thinking about. It will also hopefully open up time for me to come at the games I'm thinking about in a different way (and hey actually maybe get off my ass and start making some too).

I've also had fun with a spreadsheet of my blogging "progress".
You can find a permanent link to the blorgress page here.

So, over all I'm happy, the blog is staying nominal and that's about it until next August.

Thanks for reading if you do.

Oh and I also figured out how the automatic scheduler works, so I'm pretty happy.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 136)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we go to a concert, chill in Sweden and get lost in people's dreams.

• First, Hank talks about the 13 things you need to know about being cool at concerts.
• Next, Mr. Smooth McGroove takes us to Sweden and gives me all the nostalgia and feels for Minecraft.
• Finally, Brentalfloss shares his first ever composition with us and it's pretty damn cool.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 135)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we get invaded, get help and get dressed up.

• First, on Tested, Adam Savage gets rid of a Zeebler and we get to look at Marty Cooper's animation.
• Next, The Fruity Ukuladies get by with a little help from their friends.
• Finally, Dodger walks through all the links between cosplay and theatre and argues that theatre and cosplay are two fields that should be going hand in hand.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 134)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we think about sex, wander a mountain and then fly off into the sky.

• First, from Sexplanations,  Dr. Lindsay Doe takes a look at how we figure out what sex we are.
• Next, Kristina Horner and Eia Waltzer show off their "Frozen" cosplay on a frozen mountain.
• Finally, Laura Shigihara lifts our spirits covering "Where No One Goes" from "How to Train Your Dragon 2".

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 133)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we get excited and watch Dodger build a table.

• We've seen Dodger build a couple of things in the past, but this time she decided to go big and built a table out of a pallet and wood burned the logo from Monster Hunter Tri into top. 
• The first video is focused on building the table top out of an old pallet.
• Next they age steel pipe to make the legs out of.
• Then it's time to burn the tabletop with the logo. (Over head projectors are your friends!)
• Finally, It's time to build the table all together.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 132)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we try not to die in space, get a little angry and then drive off down a rainbow road.

• First, Belated Media talks about Alien and Aliens and the (very different) ways in which they're both excellent. I like Alien better (it has more SPACE in it), but rewatching this video I just want to watch them both again.
• Next, Pomplamoose is too mad to watch 30 Rock tonight. But they just need a little time to cool down.
• Finally, let's end by sailing off into the skies with Mr. Smooth McGroove singing the Mario Kart 64 Rainbow Road Theme a capella. This is one of those songs with a really specific association in my head, of a sleep over with a friend and racing on this course when we were super tired and falling a sleep. Definitely a great song to relax to (but maybe not drive to, if you're going to fall asleep).

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 131)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we talk about the web then go back in time with two very nostalgic video game themes.

• First, Michael from VSauce wants to talk about how and why we surf the Web (and why the web is not the net).
• Next, Caitlin and Vaughan take a trip back in time with the Menu Theme from Wolfenstein 3D.
• Finally, Mr. Smooth McGroove straps into his Ar-Wing and takes us back to the SNES Star Fox. Goood luck!

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 130)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, it's music day. Wake up, suck up and chill!

• First, get up, and don't forget to wake Pomplamoose up before you Go!
• Next, Brentalfloss flosses up the theme to Luigi's Mansion. So grab your vacuum and get to work (although I don't recommend listening to the cover if you're planning to play the game in the near future, the ear worm quotient is ... high).
• Finally, CalebElijah plays "Sub Zero Snow Field" from Seiken Densetsu 3, which I think may be one of the most beautiful pieces of music in video games. Certainly the cover is absolutely gorgeous. 

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 129)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we pull out or magnets, bang our air drums and then try to catch them all.

• First, on Sixty Symbols, Professor Phil Moriarty shows off the fun you can have with a slow motion camera, a strong magnet and some ferrofluid.
• Next, Hank Fucking Loves Science. (There's also a clean version if you need one.)
• Finally, Michael from Belated Media invites Alex and Kellz from The Dex to talk about Pokemon: The First Movie.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 128)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we figure out who we are, why Yoshi is cool and why you should be careful when you're feeling fancy.

• First, Micheleh takes a few minutes to look at who he is through the lens of media and passes on some very sage advice at the same time. Then stick around for his DVD extras, where he rants (very well) about "Content" and why it's a useless and insulting term.
• Next, Josh talks about how Super Mario World is Really Freakin' Clever. He touches on how Super Mario World has a lot of flexibility (more than many of the following Mario games) and how Yoshi is integral to how we understand the game (and how he's an aspect of the game, not just level design). He also talked about how easily Mario game communicate what the rules of the game are and I was reminded of this video from Jamin from PBS Digital Studios Game Show.
• Finally, if you need a little dose of weird this week, Pomplamoose, covered "Puttin On The Ritz." Remember folks, always keep your trip hazards under control or the lemons won't stop singing.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 127)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, it's a music volume with space ducks, menu songs and one take feelings.

• First, Caitlin and Vaughan are taking ducks to space, with their cover of The Moon Level from Duck Tails.
• Next, Mr. Smooth McGroove is ready for a fight, in the menu (from Super Smash Bros. Melee).
• Finally, from their Season 2, Pomplamoose cover James Brown, "I Feel Good" and it feels good.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 126)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we throw stones, get in fights and then get serious about consent and how we talk about sex.

• First, in a topic near and dear to my heart, Destin from Smarter Every Day takes a look at the highly non-intuitive physics of curling. This was before the new directional sweeping craze that seems to have taken over high level curling this year, so I don't know what's changed in the research landscape since then. Still Destin does a great job explaining the more technical matters of curling.
• Next, Caitlin and Vaughan are ready for Morrrrrrrtttttaaaallll Kooooommmmmbbbbaaaaatttt!
• Finally and most importantly, Charlie talks about sex and consent. 

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 125)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we take a look at the fancy computing of yore, learn to draw bunnies and then figure out how to produce a very successful six season television show.

• First, we start out with some of the history of the Apple Macintosh from Computerphile. The original Mac was definitely a departure from how computers would have been seen up to that point (see the smiley face when it boots), although I would love to take the chance to compare it to the Lisa which Apple was also producing at the time. If you're interested in more Macintosh history, checkout folklore.org which is a collection of stories written by the folks who created the Mac.
• Next, we stop in to learn how to draw a bunny with Simon Tofield of Simon's Cat.
• Finally, Adam Savage takes an hour to talk with Vince Gilligan, just at the end of Breaking Bad. I've never watched Breaking Bad, but I'm always kinda interested in stories of TV production. There are probably spoilers, but it has been more than two weeks since then.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 124)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we cut to the chase, drink tea and attend a play.

• First, this Video. (from Mike Rugnetta)
• Next, Charlie talks about his patriotism, how to be patriotic when you're British and how wonderful hot leaf water is.
• Finally, dust off your Greek classics and watch John Green talk about Oedipus on Crash Course Literature.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 123)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we play some video game music and take some video game facts out of the guts of a PlayStation.

• The first video is from, Caitlin and Vaughan, of Geek and Sundry Vlogs, playing "Into the Wilderness" from Wild Arms. I've never played Wild Arms (I had a real it's not an RPG if you don't have armour and a sword thing going for way too many years), but the music's good. 
• Next, Ben Chan presents his arrangement of "Wind Scene" from Chrono Trigger. This music always grabs me, and I like his performance and his improvisation in the second half.
• Finally, on VSauce 3, Jake takes apart a PlayStation and finds out that it's full of interesting facts. 

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 122)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we get ready for adventure and the weekend all with the great things of video games and music.

• First, I've been having trouble getting going, so it's really nice that we get to start with Mr. Smooth McGroove pushing us out Into the Thick of It. So grab that rusty sword out of the stream and go fight the fluffy evil of your to do list. (Or at least that's my plan.)
• Next, Josh would like you to remember that Star Fox was Really Freakin' Cleaver. I like his point that the world and the sense of journey is the reason why Star Fox has stayed memorable. I remember being a kid, spending hours fantasizing about how amazing a Star Fox II could be, especially imagining it letting you pick different paths and having more complex interactions with your squad mates (like having them actually shoot things). I think a lot of that came from how well the world grabbed me.
  Also, I have been creeping out my friends for years by saying  good luck like the flight controller in the beginning of Star Fox.  (Actually they've probably never noticed, but hey, I like doing it anyway.)
• Finally, Hank is ready for the weekend, playing half a century's worth of music all with the same damn cord progression.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 121)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we look at the shells we build for ourselves, the shells people gloop on to our heads and strawberries. (If he'd used peas I'd have had a chance. Thanks a lot John.)

• First, Ze Frank reads "If you are in a shell" and Harry Shum Jr. dances. If you have the time, stop what you're doing and put this one full screen (and I think bigger screen is better). It's very touching and I had one of those discovering my hands moments after I finished watching. And if you are in a shell, then this video is a nice reminder that you can always move.
• Next, somewhat in contradiction to the first video, we watch Frank Ippolito put Norm Chan in a shell, so that later, they can build a shell for him. Or actually, make a life cast of him, which is more cool. This is part of Tested.com's Zoidberg project.
• Finally, we check in with John Green for an update about things. This one is a video from an interesting time and it's nice to reach back and feel all the excitement when The Fault in Our Stars was starting production and Esther was getting published and the Dons were getting sponsored by Nerdfighteria.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 120)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we get awesome, get science and get musical.

• First, the vlogbrothers host the Project For Awesome every year and this video is (a few of) the highlights from 2013.
• Next, Hank enjoys some holidays and his favourite, nothing to do day, thing, answering science questions. #amI1percentnacho
• Finally, Ben Chan, as a guy in four boxes, plays a parody on the themes from Final Fantasy.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 119)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we reverse engineer our own typesetter and answer real questions about real vlogbrothers.

• First, we have two videos from Computerphile looking at "The Great 202 Jailbreak". This is a good look at the spirit of inventiveness that makes computer science interesting and at how complex a thing that seems simple, like printing*, can be.
• Then to round out the volume Hank Green did Question Tuesday with his parents. Answering the most important question, how was John Green as a child.