Category: Article
0 Adam’s Video Picks – Ep. 100 Special Edition
As we celebrate the week of our 100th podcast episode, it seems an appropriate time to recap some of my favorite videos from my weekly video picks series. It’s been great fun hand-selecting these videos for you, and I’ll be glad to keep rolling these out for your viewing pleasure. As always, enjoy!
1. Jaguar Project 7
Looking back through the weeks, I still found this car to be absolutely gorgeous, and the way it’s filmed in this clip makes the most of its excellent qualities.
2. Let Me Breathe – Samuel Truth
This song still gets stuck in my head – in a good way – from time to time and I love the Japanese animation from 1929. Samuel Truth’s music just keeps getting better and better. If you haven’t already, be sure to check him and his music out of SoundCloud.
3. Pumpcast News – The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Still funny, and this guy and his lady are great entertainers.
4. The History of Typography
Fascinating, informative, and well-done stop-motion.
5. OVERVIEW
Last, but not least, I had to post this one again for the perspective and beautiful insights it has to offer.
Thanks again for watching/listening and here’s to 100 more episodes on the Buffering Podcast!
0 Adam’s Weekly Video Picks – Vol. 13
Never mind you superstitious types – you’ll feel pretty lucky to have seen what I have in store for you this week. We’ll take a tour of the international space station, learn about some amazing photography, and more. Commence!
1. Departing Space Station Commander Provides Tour of Orbital Laboratory (International Space Station)
It is so damn cool to see HD footage like this from the ISS. Just imagine what it must be like to live up there. Also, this video was shot in space.
2. 30 Years of BAD Pictures – Bruce Dale
Meanwhile, back on Earth: Bruce Dale, a photographer for National Geographic, has taken some incredible photos.
3. The Biological Advantage of Being Awestruck
Speaks for itself. Neat.
Thanks for checking out this week’s picks. Ta!
0 The Awesomes: All Name, No Game
During the taping of Episode 94 (available on 8/2/13), I had given an honorable mention to “The Awesomes”, a new animated comedy available exclusively on Hulu, and created by Seth Meyers, as the two-part pilot was released today, and, in doing so, gave a skeptical review based on the trailers I had seen.
I was right (so far).
I watched the two twenty minute episodes last night, and again this morning for review, and there was little-to-no draw for me to invest any additional time in the program at all. The animation lacks style beyond Flash-based shorts, the plot is predictable, and the writing left out that whole comedy thing.
I’m really making an effort not to write off the show completely, as I am a big supporter of original content for streaming services, but there are no visible saving graces to even entice me to give “The Awesomes” another shot. The cast is comprised of NBC (primarily “Saturday Night Live”) talent, including Meyers, Rachel Dratch, Bill Hader, Rashida Jones, Taran Killam, Kenan Thompson, and others, but the voice acting sounds like … well, it sounds like those actors reading lines (with Hader as the exception) versus voice acting.
It’s also unfortunate that the premise is also mismanaged, where utilization of super powers lacks originality, creativity, and, essentially, necessity. Meyers’ character, Jeremy “Prock” Awesome, has the ability to freeze time, a la Zach Morris’ “Time Out” power of “Saved By The Bell” fame, but, rather than using it to thwart danger, or swing favor in his direction, it is used primarily to provide Prock with asides during social situations. That, and it is mentioned that said power is harmful to Prock’s well-being, but after that reference, we never see further evidence to support it. The rest of the team is fairly standard in the superhero world: there’s super speed, super strength, a Hulk, a techie, a Green Lantern-esque conjurer, and a hot girl.
Until additional episodes are released on Hulu.com, there’s not a lot I can really discuss further, but I will remain optimistic that we will find more depth in the Awesomes well as the story continues.
0 Adam’s Weekly Video Picks – Vol. 12
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles! Well, maybe not trains. This week, I decided to go with a transportation theme for the video picks! Some of them are basically just commercials, but they’re the kind of commercials that make you go, “Whoa,” so I figure it’s not just shameless advertising. Let’s jump right in:
1. Honda Hands
Garrison Keillor provides a little voice talent at the beginning of this gem. So fun to watch how the little toy transforms and evolves!
2. Mercedes G63 AMG 6×6
This thing is just ridiculous. It looks ridiculous, what it can do is ridiculous. It is so ridiculous, it’s kind of awesome.
3. Jaguar Project 7
For a long time, I thought Jaguar had lost its way and they couldn’t be expected to make an exciting, stunning car. They proved me wrong with this single video. Not only is this car absolutely gorgeous, but the sound it makes is so very brutish and mighty. This is already one of my new favorite cars.
4. Bubba’s Hover
Here, we see a fantastic new take on something that’s already loads of fun: the golf cart. That, and we find out how Bubba really got into golf.
5. The PAL-V
As we gradually make our way a little further off the ground and into the air, we observe the PAL-V. This video is a little over a year old, but the technology and the concept are just wicked cool. As much as I would like to take one of these babies to work, I know that dream is still a little ways off.
6. Jetman vs. Jetteam
Yes, this is a video of a man with wings and jet engines strapped to his back flying next to real fighter jets. A real Iron Man suit can’t be that far behind.
7. Airventure 2010
This footage is from a few years back, but the footage and how it’s cut together is better than the other stuff I could find. Airventure 2013 is going on right now! Man, I would love to go.
I hope you enjoyed this extra-long set of videos with a transportation theme! Keep motoring, straighten up and fly right and all that. Cheers!
0 Adam’s Weekly Video Picks – Vol. 11
Since it looks like this week’s episode was lost due to a power outage, we need a very special volume 11 of video picks to make up for it. Lucky for us, I have a very special premiere, released just yesterday, to get us started!
1. McMETA – Written and Directed by Zach Hammill
Sooo, Funny or Die is giving me some trouble embedding video into the article, so just click the link above. Zach is my Bro-in-law, and this is his latest excellent work. Enjoy!
2. The Masquerade – CONvergence 2013
So, this isn’t the video of the actual show that I was hoping would be available by now, but this does give you an idea of what Masquerade is all about, aaaaaaand you mmmmmight recognize a few folks in this video. ;)
3. Jordi Bertran Company
Here’s another selection from Dan. The motion of the little guy is even more impressive watching this one a second time.
That’s all for now! Stay tuned for more!
0 Adam’s Weekly Video Picks – Vol. 10
Welcome back, ladies and gents, to a week that can only be described as “the week after the 4th of July weekend”… pretty self explanatory. But don’t let the lull after the fireworks get you down! Get your spirits up with some imaginative bike riding, discover the instrument behind that weird word you’ve maybe heard an older family member use, and get a guffaw or two from a few humorous contributions in this week’s colorful set of videos. Enjoy!
1. Interview with a One-Year-Old
Clearly, some solid parenting. Cute!
2. Danny McAskill’s Imaginate -Red Bull
I remember playing with toys like this in my room…
3. Hurdy Gurdy: Mancell Minuets – Dante Ferrara
Not just a fun rhyming word, also a bizarre instrument!
4. Ho Hey Harry Caray
And finally, one from Dan.
0 Adam’s Weekly Video Picks – Vol. 9
Hmm, maybe I should call this one the Weekend Video Picks considering how late in the week we are, but this’ll do. This time, I have a special Minnesota-themed set of videos! I have a few from The Current and a special episode of My Drunk Kitchen that took place right here in Minnesota. Enjoy!
1. Rock the Garden 2013 Time-Lapse
Rock the Garden is a fantastic outdoor concert featuring big artists at the Walker Art Center Sculpture Garden. I wasn’t there this year, but this makes me wish I was. METRIC!
2. My Drunk Kitchen: Minneapolis Hot Dish!
Hannah Harto joins a Minnesota YouTuber (a friend of producer Caity’s, by the way) to make an episode with a bit of Minnesota flair.
3. Dessa Deconstructed: Breaking Down “Parts of Speech” – 89.3 The Current
This is a fantastic program about Dessa’s creative process, talking primarily about her new album. I really enjoyed hearing about the early stages – recording pieces on an iPhone and scribbling lyrics on scraps of paper. I learned so many facts!
There you have it! A little Minnesota pride/embarrassment for you.
Until next time…
0 Adam’s Weekly Video Picks – Vol. 8
Zounds! It’s time for me to post another set of videos I’m certain you’ll enjoy. For this round, we’ll start with some A Capella, relive some 90’s greatness, see some game show ridiculousness, and again, relive some 90’s greatness.
1. Sonic 2: Chemical Plant Zone A Capella – Smooth McGroove
There are plenty of videos out there of guys singing all the parts to a song in this split-screen arrangement, but Smooth McGroove is a cut above the rest. The vocals are so crisp and the sound is great. He has a ton of songs from video games on his page (Zelda!) as well as a few covers of some popular Indy rock songs. Go check it out!
2. Will & Jaden Smith, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Alfonso Ribiero Rap! – The Graham Norton Show
Nostalgia much? This is why Will Smith was one of my heroes growing up. Awesome.
3. 1 Hour of the Funniest Game Show Answers Ever
I was very amused.
4. Wild & Crazy Kids – Episode 42
Remember this show? We were talking about it on the podcast this week. Classic Nickelodeon!
Thanks for watchin’! See you next week!
0 Adam’s Weekly Video Picks – Vol. 7
When you’ve spent as many days without seeing the sun as we have here in the great state of Minnesota the past few weeks, it can be challenging to maintain a good mood. Given my current employment in the customer service sector, I know this as well as anyone. It’s times like these that what you really need is a good laugh…
1. Dragonball Z Abridged – Season 1
Even if you’re not a Dragonball Z fan, you’ll find plenty of laughs here. Think of Dragonball Z as the plate on which this heaping helping of hilarity is served.
2. “Creating Customs” Visits Local Motors
If the laughs above didn’t tickle your fancy, maybe you need to see something awesome. Enter the Rally Fighter! It’s one of the coolest cars out there and the story behind how this car was designed and built by a community is remarkable – a unique approach to the car market.
3. How Iron Man 3 Should Have Ended
It’s pretty safe to assume that those of you who are going to see Iron Man 3 have seen it already, so here’s How It Should Have Ended with… how it should have ended. Check out the rest of their videos!
4. Start a Mumford Band – Key of Awesome
This was one of the featured videos from YouTube’s comedy week. I gotta admit, after watching this and hearing a Mumford-style folk song on the radio, they hit the nail right on the head.
That should do for now! Stay tuned for next week!
0 Adam’s Weekly Video Picks – Vol. 6
Hello! So nice of you to pry yourself away from watching the new season of Arrested Development to check out my picks for this week! Maybe some of you already finished them (I was done in two quite full evenings), so I’ll welcome you back to the part of the internet that isn’t about the Bluth family. This week, we’ll learn about the history of typography and sit in on a few hilarious and interesting panels!
1. The History of Typography
Fascinating, with well-done stop-motion.
2. Wil Wheaton & The Science of Star Trek – StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
It’s so neat to see how fact and fiction mesh in this panel.
3. Game of Thrones Emmy Panel 2013
We didn’t get an episode of Game of Thrones this week and I know many of you are fans, so here’s something to hold you over until next Sunday! Peter Dinklage is so awesome and I laughed out loud many times watching this.
There we have it! I’m just posting three this week, since the two panels are so long (well worth your time, though!). See you next time!
The Buffering Podcast 