Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 156)

In this volume of my Favourite YouTube Videos, we go through the five steps of trauma, remind ourselves just how awesome we are and then get dirty fighting about video games.

• First, Dael Kingsmill, illustrates the trauma that is a broken Internet connection. 
• Second, Pomplamoose is the shit, and they have been right since the very beginning.
• Finally, The Gaming Historian walks us through the rise of Tengen and the war of Atari vs Nintendo.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 155)

In this volume of my Favourite YouTube Videos, we lament the passing of small local video game zoos and celebrate just how cool modern engineering can be.

• First. Dave Bulmer, sings a song that makes him very happy. About Donkey Kong. And how he doesn't have a zoo any more. And it's a real song even!
• Next, Destin from Smarter Every Day discovers that the cupola shutters on the International Space Station work by turning a rod stuck through the side of the space station. You might think this would let all the air out, but, because engineering is cool, it doesn't.
• Finally, The Engineer Guy breaks down the way aluminum cans are manufactured, which is a very complex process for something that happens within a second or so.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (154)

In this volume of my Favourite YouTube Videos, we freeze the rain, celebrate feathered friends and begin at (almost) the very beginning.

• Did you ever want to watch rain drops hold still? Destin from Smarter Every Day brings you your dreams with a syringe and a slotted spoon. 
• Next, Norman Caruso, The Gaming Historian takes a break to tell you his 10 favourite birds in video games, because ... well, don't *you* have 10 favourite birds in video games? (I think my number one is Sage Joch)
• Finally Dave Bulmer brings you not the beginning, but the beginning of the bit at the beginning of the beginning but just after the beginning of the beginning. By which I mean he's talking about the beginning of the Prolog of The Way of Kings (by Brandon Sanderson). Dave already talked about why he's talking about the Stormlight Archive in an even earlier beginning.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 153)

In this volume of my Favourite YouTube Videos,  we reprogram our brains, go play and find the animal hidden in our own minds.

• First, Destin from Smarter Everyday reprograms his mind as an exercise in bias and bicycle riding. 
• Next, Pomplamoose would like to know if you'd like to Come Out to Play
• Finally, Mary Doodles scribbles with her buddy Danté and discovers an animal in hiding. (Kudos for deciding it was facing us, I kinda thought it was going the other way.) 

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 152)

In this volume of my Favourite YouTube Videos,  we drum up some memories, hammer down some problems and then sponge up some more useless knowledge.

• First, I hope your imaginary spaceship is ready, because Dave Bulmer is really excited about Forbidden Planet and he has his iambics, his pentameters and corrugators ready. (If you're also wondering what the hell he's going on about, he explains, in this video).
• Next, Brent Black brings us Super Mario 3D World with lyrics, because it's nice to celebrate the games that can save your friendships rather than destroy them.
• Finally, John Green has some facts that you might need to know (by which of course will never *need* to know, but will still come to you when you least expect it).

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 151)

In this volume of my Favourite YouTube Videos, we save our bees, celebrate our lab techs and lament the passing of time.

• First, if you're feeling like you've heard too many sad, weird or creepy Greek myths lately, Dael Kingsmill is here to tell you a touching story about a guy and his bees. Well it's still weird, but what can you do?
• Next we have a moment of thanks from Periodic Videos for their awesome lab tech Neil. 
• Finally, Laura Shigihara plays her cover of Chrono Trigger's Corridor's of Time, The Fall and as usual raises all the hair on my arms with this song.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 150)

In this volume of my Favourite YouTube Videos, we celebrate, get a little loopy and then scribble our way to success.

• First, we have the history of the Gaming Historian. Norman celebrates 100K subscribers with the story of how he came to be doing what he's doing.
• Next, suppose you edited and posted 25 videos in 24 hours. Do you think you might feel slightly odd. Nah, I can't say I would either. 25 from Stephen Georg's Stephenvlog.
• Finally, Mary Doodles blows our minds again by taking a few random scribbles and turning them into yet another amazing piece of art. Yaaaa! Yaaaaaaaaa!

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 149)

In this volume of my Favourite YouTube Videos, we follow Norman Caruso, the Gaming Historian as he delves deep into the history of Wolfenstein, a video game series that changed the landscape. It's certainly left me wanting to revive my Apple II so that I can see if I play the original again. As a kid, I never managed to make it out of the cell.

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 148)

In this volume of my Favourite YouTube Videos,  we code, we paint, we sing and we kick ass (well people do, we watch).

• First, we have the extras to Numberphile and Computerphile's visit to Pixar. The original video was interesting, but I was especially interested in this one because it focuses on academias relation to industry, engineers (and computer scientists) relation to artists and software's relation to the real word.
• Next, Mary Doodles draws a triceratops eating lunch.  Because, of course.
• Finally, Laura Shigihara, sings "Stronger than You" from Stephen Universe and stands all the hair up on our arms (well my arms anyway). I ... should probably watch that show at some point.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 147)

In this volume of my Favourite YouTube Videos, we touch hearts, heads and feet.

• First, if you asked, I'd tell you that Jurassic Rhythm is why Chrono Trigger is awesome... of course, I'd be willing to tell you that any part of Chrono Trigger is what makes it awesome. Also if you asked, I'd tell you that this song is why Caleb Elijah is awesome... of course, I'd be willing to tell you that any song he plays is what makes him awesome. Now if you asked me what make is guitar awesome, I'd ask what the hell is wrong with you because LOOK AT THE THING!
• Next, in case you were wondering (and I'm sure you were) it turns out that every hat you thought was different was pretty much the same, and Lindybeigh is here to fill you in.
• Finaly, not content to answer your questions about headwear, Lindybeige  is also happy to fill you in on those things you were wondering (amd I'm sure you were) about shoes.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 146)

In this volume of my Favourite YouTube Videos,  we look at our pasts and our futures, look at computers past and then fly through space in a very unfuture kind of way.

• First, John talks about being in high school and a) how it can leave you feeling an awful lot like a failure and b) how high school is not actually destiny or even life. It's nice to remember that our then is not our now, and our now is not our future.
• Next, Hank takes apart a mechanical calculator and it's awesome!
• Finally, we get a suite of music from Super Mario Galaxy, performed by the WDR Radio Orchestra, conducted by Niklas Willén (who I'm pretty sure is dancing on his way to the party).

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 145)

In this volume of my Favourite YouTube Videos, we die, we lament our lost days and we relax.

• First, it's game over, man, game over ... with Brentalfloss and his comic crew making a tribute to Edward Gorey's The Gashlycrumb Tinies and how bad we all are at games.
• Next, Lindybeige laments that one insignificant day.
• And finally, Yungtown's here to help us relax with the 10 most relaxing pieces of video game music.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume (144)

In this volume of my Favourite YouTube Videos,  we get a little superstitious about song writing.

• First, Pomplamoose rebuilds a song to create the Stevie Wonder Herbie Hancock Mashup.
• Next we take a deep dive with Dave Bulmer and Brent Black where they talk about their collaborations to date and the new (then) Ocarina of Time with Lyrics Video. (It's two parts and total, about an hour and a half, just a heads up).

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.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 142)

In this volume of my Favourite YouTube Videos,  it's a music week, so grab your game boy, the internet and head to an Oasis for a listen.

• First, Jimmy Wong has a little song about a particular brotherly video game.
• Next, Pomplamoose would like to remind you that the Internet is Awesome (although we should probably have one of those the web is not the internet talks at some point).
• Finally, Meine Meinung, play their original song Oasis.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 141)

In this volume of my Favourite YouTube Videos, we get our feathers in order, look waaaaaay back and then put on our music helmets.

• First, Meine Meinung, hop on their chocobos and take us for a ride.
• Next, John and Hank Green team up to talk about Big History, and start, as you do, with the Big Bang.
• Finally, if you wanted to hear all of Daft Punk's songs mashed into one accapella ear worm, the Pentatonix are here to provide.

Blog: Favourite YouTube Videos (Volume 140)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we haul out old favourites to take ourselves on some epic adventures.

• First, CalebElijah plays "A Wish", which is the snow area theme from Secret of Mana. As always CalebElijah makes me happy and this is one of my favourite parts of one of my favourite games, so this one definitely makes all the hair stand up on my arms.
• Next, Mr. Smooth McGroove, sings "One Wing Angel". I like the cover even though I don't really like the song (nor how excited people get for it, but apparently I'm a game hipster ... surprise). 
• Finally we get to the very awesome Meine Meinung playing "Guarida Millenial Fair". One of the things I absolutely love about Chrono Trigger is how the music tells so much of the story and I love the way Meine Meinung covers Chrono's adventure at the fair. 
• This is definetly the point where I fell in love with Meine Meinung so the next six videos in my favourites playlist are all from them, so expect the next two volumes may be all blue grassed video game music all the time.

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 138)

In this volume of my favourite YouTube videos, we believe, get stuck and colour some magic.

• First, Pomplamoose covered Believe and just makes me really happy. I love that song (and that album) more than I probably should and I love Pomplamoose just as much as I should (which is to say, a lot), so it's a definite ray of sunshine.
• Next the Fruity Ukeladies are Stuck in the Middle with You. And also this post, I guess.
• Finally, Dave Bulmer starts in on the Discworld journey he told us about in the last volume, starting on the first five books.

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!)