Groundhog Day! Punxsutawney Phil has spoken and there will be six more weeks of winter. This is not uncommon or accurate. Surprise! But you know what is surprising? The fact that the club that tends to Phil year round speaks to him in "Groundhogese" and possesses a "ancient acacia wood cane" that allows them to understand Phil. It's all fun and games but also borderline cultish. I approve.

Here's some distractions to fill your elongated winter time.

• Parkour Robot - news to me but, apparently, the latest robot from Boston Dynamics - named Handle - can do a bit of Parkour. This beast can jump 4 feet in the air and travel over multiple terrains. Excuse the cheesy Mashable video explaining all this but we've come a long way.
• November Trailer - Oscilloscope is putting out this insane film which looks to be a cross between The Witch and anything from Guy Maddin.
• january.meme - if you understand all of this, you may be spending too much time online. For the record, I understand all of this.
• Football Jeopardy - blank stares all the way. I empathize.
• 15 Birds - a little throwback here to the animated Hobbit movie which is still absolutely terrifying.
• Redbone, Animoji - I can't lie, I loved this and I know it's an ad meant to pander to me but I still fell for it.
• Richard Williams - Animating Movement - not really an absurd video but a fascinating essay on one of the best animators on the planet.
• Groundhog Day Deleted Scene - here's Bill Murray as Phil Connors showing off his pool skills. It's, admittedly, not the most compelling scene but it's a nice lead-in to other deleted scenes and essays.

Stay safe. Be warm!

I was in New York all week and this has greatly dampered my ability to cruise around the Internet and stockpile absurd videos for distraction. I had a blast but the list this week will be short. Drop me a line on Twitter to let me know what I should have included.

• Cheerios - a bit of sound editing goes a long way.
• Candide Thovex - first off, I didn't know people ski'ed over dirt, grass and through jungles. Just did not know it was a thing. Second, this is stunning looking. This is generally not something I'd spend time with but the editing and drone shots are undeniable.
• Ocean Gravity - a beautiful short film captured underwater with a diver adrift. Pretty amazing how the comparison to space and the deep sea works so aptly.
• Metallica, Smooth Jazz - it's been awhile since you heard this and you need a gentle reminder to let it back into your life. Many thanks to my brother for the refresher course.

Stay safe. Be warm!

Been a big week of announcements! We Own This Town was relaunched. Hott Minute, the first podcast series on the WOTT Network, was released. Patrick Damphier was added to the yk Records roster with a new 7" coming out on Feb 23rd. Oh, and that same day is the big A Night of: yk Records 2 show at Mercy Lounge in Nashville. Oh, and bonus thing, Little Bandit is hitting the road with Margo Price starting tomorrow (Jan 20th) playing several sold out shows. If you can find a way to see any of those, please do.

I know this site is meant to be a hub for random distractions and interesting topics but, honestly, if I can fill it with things that I'm putting out into the world, I'll do it.

That being said, here's some distractions from around the way.

• First Look: Nintendo Labo - I was skeptical but this new announcement from Nintendo seems sort of brilliant? I don't even fully get it yet but it seems that you'll be able to design and print an infinite number of cardboard chasis for your Switch that will add an extra layer of interaction to various games. I need to learn more about it all but I'm glad to see this out in the world.
• Beck - Fix Me - Adorable dogs and baby in this latest from Beck. Are the dogs friendly companions or stand-ins for parents?
• Animotion - Obsession - alright, since I already posted one music video, here's another from 80's that is perfectly bonkers. I want to see a Kyle Mooney remake of this.
• DJ Cummerbund - Jereloose - this classic from Pearly Jammins will surely top your 2018 Spotify playlist.
• Winston Churchill dancing like James Brown, played by Gary Oldman - I'm hesistant to applaud silly Oldman is doing at the moment given depressing facts about him but I did find this rather amusing.
• How TVs Work - maybe you already know all about refresh rates, LEDs, OLEDs, CRTs, etc. but you maybe haven't seen them all shot this well. It's a primer type explanation but a worthwhile one just for the fidelity of looking at how all the pieces work.

Stay safe. Be warm!

While the East Coast recently experienced a "Bomb Cyclone", the South is currently experiencing a Flash Freeze. Apparently it's been named Winter Storm Hunter, not quite as threatening in my opinion. It does serve as a nice reminder to enjoy this guy slipping.

Wherever you are, hunker down and enjoy a long weekend. Here's some distractions to kick it off:

• Slipping Guy - here it is again in video form. I am confident I can watch this for an hour straight and never tire. How is there not a 10 hour version of this?!
• Bowling Disaster - you know exactly what's coming and it's no disappointment when it happens. I think this may be my new favorite search term.
• The Road Movie - no, not the brutal Cormac McCarthy film but, rather, a feature-film with theatrical release of Russian Dashboard Cams. The trailer is great but definitely nerve wracking.
• VRChat - Want a glimpse into the future? This is it. Social VR mixed with a baffling array of avatars, largely infested by racist Uganda Knuckles. The quotes are from the Wakaliwood movie Who Killed Captain Alex?, in case you were wondering.
• XTC: This Is Pop - new Showtime documentary on XTC. If you don't know them, watch this film and dive in deep. The whole catalog is solid top to bottom.
• Reptaliens - UBIK - I posted this previously but I've really been enjoying this album and the video matches the band name vibe perfectly.

Stay safe. Be warm!

Welcome to 2018! It's a new year but that's not going to stop me from posting the same ole absurdity every week as a pleasant distraction from the world around us. As always, thanks for reading and enjoy:

• Lawn - I don't know the story here and don't want to. via Paige.
• Adult Dumpster Diving Freakout - "WHO CARES?! FINDERS KEEPERS, LOSERS WEEPERS!" via John.
• She Likes Big Words - I've been listening to this song for 19 years and it still grabs me every time. Rarely do you stumble upon the perfect blend of Duran Duran, Gary Numan and a bit of a hard rock edge. My description can't even do it justice.
• I'm a Stupid Housecat - it's dumb, I admit it, but it's also catchy damnit.
• Nirvirna in Major Chord - as the tweet says, "Someone auto-tuned 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' to a major chord, and now life is confusing."
• Italian Grandmother learning to use Google Home - the "OK, Google" is unbelievably funny, every time.

If you need something new to listen to, get in on this podcast, with soundtrack from Makeup and Vanity Set.

It's that time of the year for me to take a break from the daily blogging routine. Every morning I try to post 1-3 new items of interest and add to the sidebar throughout the day. I don't pay much attention to my stats for the most part, doing this more for my own daily exercise than anything, but it's always good to know someone might be out there enjoying it. I genuinely hope you do.

I've got some posts queued up for next week that will review my yk records releases and this weeks Friday video compilation includes plenty of the longer variety to help you with the long stretches of holiday downtime.

Thanks for reading and have a great remainder of 2017.

• Cut for Time: New Years Kiss - SNL has plenty of ups and downs but these Cut For Time skits from the latest season have been top notch. This is no exception.
• George Harrison - My Sweet Lord on Monty Python Show - tis a silly thing.
• Best News Bloopers 2017 - always a delight.
• Stranger Things: A Bad Lip Reading - I generally find Bad Lip Readings to be more delightful in the sub-5-minutes range but this is an ambitious undertaking with enjoyable results.
• Snowy Bing Bongs Across The North Star Combat Zone - directed by DANIELS, this 40-minute short is a bizarre mixture of sketch, dance and high-art weirdness. Even odder is that it's actually a delight to watch, too.
• An Evening with Noel Fielding Live - if you're a fan of the Mighty Boosh, you may enjoy this 2 hour live show from one half of the creators. It's clear from watching that Noel was clearly the more absurd of the Boosh duo.
• Building the ultimate Diorama - not a narrative piece but an instructional video on creating miniatures that is extremely calming.
• Red Dwarf US Pilot (1992) - have you ever watched the BBC series Red Dwarf? It's a space comedy that was primarily on the air from 1988 to 1999, with a few more recent series reviving the cast. Turns out, they tried to make a US version. It's doesn't fully capture the original vibes but there's something about a 1992 sitcom that just feels comfortable, even if it never aired.
• Man eats a sausage at a bus stop for 1 hour - an endurance challenge for the whole family.

If you still find yourself looking around for more to watch, try out this massive Ween archive of shows. That should more than fill your time.

Funny or Die did a wrap-up on Best Gifs of 2017, certainly worth a gander if you're looking for a distraction. This is so good if you haven't seen it before. Surprised Giphy didn't do this but there's still time left in the year.

More importantly, this dump of Combined GIFs is making my week.

• Seagulls (Stop It Now) - new Star Wars out today but let us not forget the brightest gem in the ever-growing pile of Star Wars content.
• This is the water, this is the well - I find myself mentally revisiting The Woodsmen from Twin Peaks: The Return and stumbled on this perfect mash-up.
• Natalia Medvedeva, When The Lesson is Boring - this Russian comedian is all physical humor and it got me. I can't explain why but I loved it.
• Guns N' Roses - White Christmas - intentionally bad and successfull at that. Amusingly tough to endure.
• The End Is the Beginning Is The End - I had completely wiped the memory of this video from my mind. Everyone craps on this Batman movie but this video really takes the cake for me.
  
  Not to go off on a tangent here but I also suggest reading the Wikipedia entry for the song Eye in which it is noted that " Billy Corgan's music publisher suggested he collaborate with basketball superstar and rapper Shaquille O'Neal, who had begun work on You Can't Stop the Reign." That's a b-side I hope surfaces one day.
• Ready Player One - Reality - dumb. dumb dumb dumb. Enjoyed.
• Jake Tapper vs Ted Crockett - talking heads news arguments are frustratingly boring but anytime a news anchor simply states facts and shuts down the idiot on the other side, it's a pleasant view. See also: this extended pause version.
• What's a Computer? - nailed it.
• This is the water, this is the well, 8 hours - need a terrifying sleep aid? Got you covered.

Have a great weekend! The end of the year approaches and I'm probably going to slow down on the posting so I can focus on wrapping up some projects that launch next year. Don't worry, I'll leave you with plenty to watch and enjoy.

If you didn't see the tweet, one of the yk Records artists that I work with - Little Bandit - has been named in the Top 40 Best Country Albums of 2017 by Rolling Stone. Maybe you don't care about Country Music, maybe you don't care about Rolling Stone - but, for me, it's quite a honor to see such a thing. I had zilch to do with the crafting of the actual songs but I'm still real happy that others recognize how good it is.

Here's a list of weird things to watch!

• Batman vs Spiderman vs Santa Claus - this drunken fight is probably nothing to laugh about but the costumes make it impossible not to enjoy.
• Picard Flute Duet - subtlety at its finest.
• Thomas the Train Stunts - there really is something unbelievably calming and delightful about this.
• Duck Eating Peas - I will not try to explain or understand my enjoyment of the speed of this undertaking.
• California Raisins Christmas - get in the holiday mood, enjoy some claymation tunes from some very talented raisins
• Han-Tyumi & The Murder Of The Universe - King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard may be my best discovery of 2017 and I've watched this 13-minute epic multiple times now.

I've watched the loop of this maybe 500 times. I suspect many more await me.

It's December. 2017 couldn't end sooner as far as I'm concerned but I'm looking forward to wrapping up some lingering projects and some new big undertakings. I've got a lot of work ahead of me for a January debut on some of this stuff but I'm looking forward to it.

Here's some feel good distractions for making it through another week of Internet Punishments.

• Twinkle Tush - tired of seeing your cat's butthole? Why not decorate it with a gem? Why not decorate your cat's butthole with a gem? Yes, it's real.
• Navage Nasal Care 3D - watching a ton of TV last week during Thanksgiving exposed me to this absolutely horrifying modern neti pot. Customers trying it out is phenomenal thing to watch.
• Bone-hemian Rhapsodoot - a year ago I posted Doot Star, so this seems like a pleasant followup. Just wait for it to really kick in.
• Try the Christmas Drink - I felt like I was making fun of Weird Paul Petroskey by including this but taking a deeper dive into his channel confirms I'm a fan. It's got a Wesley Willis vibe but with more self awareness, less exploitation and a sweet Kurt Cobain haircut.
• Cheeki Breeki - I love memes that I have absolutely zero understanding of.
• Ian Curtis Rides a Rollercoaster - Stupid in its finest form.
• Have You Ever Had A Dream Like This? But It's A Piano Cover - there are more of these, well worth a deep dive. Also reminds me of Charles Spearin.

I also recommend you check out the KFC Internet Escape Pod. Excellent execution on that.

Here in America, Thanksgiving is right around the corner. So, I'll be taking a few days off to spend time with family, friends and to, hopefully, work on a few projects that I've got stewing for 2018. Here's a shortened Friday Videos list to get you through.

• Betty Boop - Ha Ha Ha - a 1934 precursor to Roger Rabbit style animation + real world interactions. They laughing gas the planet. Literally.
• Bohemian Rhapsody Reaction - these two guys are legitimately entertaining and this is pleasant enough that you can watch with your whole family.
• Adam Sandler, Pre-Recorded Message - you know, back when I was a youth, Adam Sandler was funny. I remember crying laughing at bits like this. This bit is still funny until the very end when Sandler blurts out some homophobic tag. I post this because 1) the first 90% is still amusing and 2) that last 10% is a reminder that we still got a long way to go.
• The Bride Never Killed Bill - fairly compelling argument that Tarantino's Bride never actually Killed Bill. Discuss.

If you need more dinner table discussion, bring up this genius that is building his own rocket so he can fly into the atmosphere and finally put this whole "round Earth myth" to rest. This is satire, right? If this is real, it's incomprehensible. Discuss.

Despite having seen a million Cat GIFs, I am still overjoyed at scenes like this. I'm sure the little buddy was fine but that fearful leap just never gets old.

Gearing up for a short week last week led to not a lot of browse time, so pickings are slim. Go listen to that Coupler record.

• 1986 Campbell's Soup Commercial - I know there was a time in the late 80's when puppet aliens were a hot thing but this is creeping me out.
• Coupler: Invention 2 - speaking of Coupler! Here's the video for Invention 2: Pattern Recognition.
• Randy Scouse Git - did you know The Monkee's Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones Ltd. was released 50 years ago this month? This song isn't on there but it was a nice reminder to revisit The Monkees because they get overlooked far too often.
• Sasha Velour - I'm going to see Sasha Velour perform tonight. If you're not familiar with this epic "So Emotional" performance she does, please indulge.
• Huge Gaffe: Mayor Uses Giant Scissors To Cut Police Tape At Scene Of A Murder - sometimes ClickHole is so good it's hard to even explain.
• Little Bandit - "Sinking" - another yk Records artist video debut this week. It's a slow, sad track but hits the spot.

And, please, watch this video. It's a slow build but worth the investment.

Torn between that coffee stutter gif and the Blade Runner shrug but there's not a bad choice to be made. Then again, there's also this delightful creature, so maybe I did steer you wrong.

• Joel Osteen at The Forum - Osteen impersonator makes it very deep into a legit Osteen event.
• Stranger Kings - dumb dumb dumb dumb. Love it.
• Artsy Fartsy - a high brow piece of work from the same genius* that made Hi Stranger.
• Coffee Stirrer Performance - no judgements but I would like an mp3 of this**
• Entertainment - been revisiting these Two Old Men lately and still loving it.
• Walking Brooklyn as Kim Jong Un - just bringing it back around to impersonators making their way in the world.

I'm still enjoying /r/WCGW, despite the cringing nature of 100% of the videos.

* not sarcasm.
** yes, I still have mp3's.

November! I've got plenty to say about plans for 2018 but it feels premature with two months left to go. Laying groundwork now for some good stuff ahead.

Here's some distractions, we all know we need them.

• What Is Spoopy? - yea, it's a belated Halloween video but this song is stuck in my head. I laugh every time.
• Sony Aibo - new electronic dog from Sony. It's impressive? It's cute? It's kind of creepy? The future is weird.
• BULLY - Feel the Same - great new stop motion animation for the single off of Bully's latest, Losing.
• Fireworks in the Kitchen - from my new favorite Subreddit, What Could Go Wrong?.
• Jonathan Bree - You're So Cool - just a weird music video. Gotta appreciate the simple and effective thing going on here.
• Jump Around Doggo - I didn't want to laugh but I sure did.
• One Hour of Imaginary Celebrities - as Wjitze said, this is an Endurance Challenge. It's actually interesting technology but incredibly difficult to watch for such a long stretch. Why is this an hour??

Happy Halloween! Here's some appropriate links for the day. The above video, Mr. Sandman (Breakmaster Cylinder Remix), is an intense viewing but incredibly well edited.

• Friday Videos, Oct 27 - plenty of amusing ghouls and ghosts to stare upon here.
• Spell Caster - my 2017 spooky mix to set the mood for your evening activities.
• Shaboi on WXNA - if you haven't had your fill of Curse Walk yet, dive into this 2 hour block of spooky tunes curated by Shaboi himself.
• WOTT 96 - another mix! Curated by Lance Conzett and featuring only Nashville area artists.
• MONDOBOYS - Transylvanian Sublet - posted last year, this half hour mix holds up.

It feels great to get that Halloween mix out there. Hopefully you enjoy it (and the WOTT episode that preceeded it). This playlist is a mix of the standard distractions mixed with some Halloween theme. Why not get you the goods before the weekend instead of waiting until actual Halloween, which falls on a Tuesday. Lame.

• An Unlikely Family - I stole this gif from caspar and put it on Vimeo so I could watch that delightful grin forever.
• Scary Gary - not quite as classic as the Pumpkin Dance but a well executed, corny, weatherman prank.
• Gooseborks - incredibly stupid but absolutely satisfying in that stupidity.
• Are You Ready for Freddy? - a Fat Boys classic. The minute-long intro is a bit grueling but worth it for the very awkward Freddy raps.
• Ahhhhh - there is a full video that goes with this but do you really need anything more?
• Crumbling Castle - an 11-minute track from King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard that has one of the most consistency engaging analog video effects I've seen in maybe ever.
• 1980's Freeze Frame - even more awkward when compiled together.
• Amy's Morning Routine - stretching for the day like only Jerri Blank could do. Also, other clips worth watching.
• Lonesome Ghost - an old Disney cartoon with Mickey, Donald and Goofy chasing ghosts. Good clean amusement.
• Dead Man's Bones Dance - the editing is top notch but the dancing is next level.

Don't forget to revisit last years playlist and take a deep dive on Halloween and horror GIFs.

Every week I browse through these Funny or Die GIFs to find an amusing bit of cover art for Friday Videos. The spooked cat this week seemed appropriate for the impending Halloween season but I also loved this one and then immediately felt bad for loving it. Maybe you'll have the same experience.

• Star Trek Clips but Out Of Context - quite possibly the best 2 minutes and 36 seconds you'll have this week.
• A Funny Shave - a silent film from 1905 in which a man hallucinates after eating some shaving cream. It's as slow paced as you'd imagine a film from 1905 would be but that final reveal is worth the investment. True terror.
• Cut for Time: Climate Change - so far, the best gags of SNL this season have been the skits that were cut. Maybe it's an intentional trend? I still watch the show every week and I can't fully explain why.
• Proof that Mark Zuckerberg is Reptilian - love a good conspiracy theory mixed with terrible clipart.
• Jim & Andy - trailer for a forthcoming documentary about Jim Carrey's portrayal of Andy Kaufman and why all of the behind-the-scenes footage was never released, until this movie.
• Living with Jigsaw - I went in with the lowest expectations but chortled in amusement more than once.
• KXVO Pumpkin Dance + Shaboi - that's right, a repeat from last week because I absolutely never tire of Pumpkin Dance or Shaboi this time of year. You shouldn't either.

Need something more? How about this hilariously long piece on the @dril twitter account?

It's Friday the 13th! The world is already plenty strange so maybe don't go too nuts in celebration but maybe just stare at this page for awhile and remember the good things.

Have you seen the #ThisSongWillChangeYourLife meme? It's pretty wonderful and I hope it makes its way to YouTube.

• Curse Walk + KXVO Pumpkin Dance - Paul made this Shaboi / Pumpkin Dance mashup a few years ago and while it's not technically perfect, it's pretty damn perfect.
• Alex Jones explains Twin Peaks - I can't believe I'm saying this but this works unbelievably well.
• The Last Fry (SNL) - a digital short with Gal Gadot that was cut for time. It's unfortunate because it's some of their best work.
• Grizzly Bear - Mourning Sound - have you seen this video yet? It's refreshing to see men get objectified in a video, particularly in a non-kitschy way.
• American Psycho - #ThisSongWillChangeYourLife - it's a long clip and you see it coming but it still works.
• No Pomegranates - have you seen this teacher losing her mind? My only hope is that there is a story behind this that makes it amusing, otherwise it's just terrifyingly weird.
• Floppy Disk - this isn't from Tim & Eric but if you like Tim & Eric, you will love this.
• Corgi Troll - have a great weekend.

Like it or not, it's October. Which means random ghosts, pumpkin carving and candy corn rules everything around you. There are worse things.

• Stranger Things: The Game - Season 2 of Stranger Things is fast approaching and, of course, there's a retro videogame tie-in. I'll be real tho, it doesn't look awful.
• Sound Archives 17 - nothing particularly wacky or outrageous here, just some wonderfully done motion graphics.
• Untitled Goose Game - speaking of games, this looks great! An indiegame where you play a mischevious goose? Yep.
• Austin Rogers: Jeopardy Champ - this guy rides the line between adorable and unbearable. Fortunately, he falls on the side of adorable more often.
• Pixel 2 Announcement - I don't share this reaction to the Pixel 2 but I sure do love hearing this. Audio absolutely required.
• Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling lose it in interview - just two dudes cracking up on their press tour. Pretty adorable.
• Tom Petty - Don't Do Me Like That (1979 SNL) - the video here is askew to avoid content detection takedowns but it's a solid performance. It's literally impossible to pick a favorite Tom Petty song, he just has way way too many, but this one has always felt great.

Frank Chimero made this Tom Petty playlist and it's real good. I suggest a follow.

I have watched this about a hundred times this morning. Every loop is rewarding.

• Ariel Pink - Time to Live - I have a feeling this song is a very love it or hate it kind of scenario but I absolutely love it and the video just makes it that much more enjoyable.
• Kilby Snow - Troubles - this guy was a virtuoso on the autoharp and Autoharp Champion of North Carolina at the age of 5. This performance is from the 1960's and is entrancing.
• All Star but played on two calculators - I should hate this, I should hate this, I should hate this.
• D O G - wait for it. waaaaaaaait for it.
• What are frogs? - excellent followup David.
• Job Hunt - with Nathan For You returning, I've been diving into some of his original skits. This one sums it up nicely.
• 2 Bad Moods on a Lovely Day in the East Village - this isn't an overly amusing or hilarious video but, rather, an 11-minute tiny slice of life from NYC in 1986 courtesy of Nelson Sullivan. If you don't know his videos, you should.

If you haven't already, go check out the new Coupler album I announced this week. You're gonna love it. I got more brewing before the end of the year as well.

• Weird Simpsons VHS - an art project to re-animate The Simpsons intro with a bizarre style. It's from 2015 but it's safe to say this is the best thing I'll see in 2017.
• Isle of Dogs trailer - I was fully prepared not to enjoy the latest animation effort from Wes Anderson but I'm pleasantly surprised by this. Looking forward to it now.
• Conor McGregor Shooting Stars - this is part of a meme that I don't fully understand and don't want to. I just enjoy it.
• Monkey Shave - I can't say I condone having a monkey as a pet, nor would I assume that they enjoy a shave but it's hard to believe this guy isn't liking it to some degree!
• Nic Cage on Wogan - six minutes of real-life Cage being insane. Two minutes in he starts to disrobe. This is, absolutely, an endurance challenge.
• Invention 2: Pattern Recognition - as posted earlier this week, check out this AI powered, stop-motion video from the new Coupler record, Gifts from the Ebb Tide.
• Doctor and the Medics - Spirit in the Sky - this over-the-top 80's band has such a fascinating look and amazing videos, it's worth a deep dive. What they don't have is an original take on this song, it's pretty amazingly straightforward for a band that looks so bonkers.

I'll also go ahead and recommend you watch Sand like Liquid and this new Bjork video (I don't care for the song but her visuals are untoppable).