I am a big, big fan of Internet phenom and time drain of the Gods, StumbleUpon. If you are not familiar with it, it’s basically a little toolbar with a magic button that you click and then it takes you to something random and awesome that another StumbleUpon user has submitted and which lots of yet more users have given a “thumbs up”.

Add in the fact that it only sends you places that match categories you choose yourself, and what it basically boils down to is a wonderful “show me something I will like” button.

The results are not one hundred percent, but they are not far off. I heart that little button very much. And it’s super addictive. You can sit there and click it for hours. Trust me!

This morning, I decided I was in a video mood, and told it to just send me to videos.

And before long, I had a bunch of videos I wanted to show you! Cool, huh?

So here we go! Let’s start with that crowd (and me) pleased, cute animal tricks!

Eye Of The Walrus

Question : How do you make your boring old Seaworld type show hip, cool, and awesome?

Answer : classic movie references!

Is that not solid gold entertainment? Total home run… it is funny, cute, and hip all at once. Out of the park, baby. Killer.

You know it’s brilliant because it creates what has to be one of the greatest audience reactions ever, the “revelation to laughter and applause at the same time”. The moment they realize what is going on, they are laughing and clapping. You just know that if you can get a reaction like that, your audience is going to remember that performance for a long time, and what more can you want as an entertainer?

Plus, of course, the walrus is a rather absurd looking animal, and lends itself easily to comedy.

Unlike, say, the majestic unicorn.

When Myths Can Sing

Juicy Fruit gum came up with what I think is a completely brilliant bit of viral marketing… the godo king, that is, the kind that actually creates something worth sharing and hence adds value.

Of course, I might be biased, because I am about to share it with you. But seriously… check this:

Just imagine losing your phone and having someone sending you that just when you are feeling really low! Would that not just make your day?

And I am very impressed with the quality. The puppet looks great, and the puppeteer obviously knows what he is doing. The set is amazingly rich and detailed. Everything about it just looks fantastic. The music is a little corny, but with that much charm going for it, who cares?

And they have a whole whack of them. There’s one for Happy Birthday, another for Let’s Hang Out This Weekend, and quite intriguingly, I Like You More Than A Friend.

You just know that one will make for an interesting How We Met story some day.

“Well, your father send me this unicorn that talks like Barry White… ”

Awesome stuff, Juicy Fruit!

Of course, some people do not need a whole elaborate setup to entertain you.

When Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

All they need is a deck of cards, a volunteer from the audience, a sharpie, and a pack of smokes.

Now, I was a little conflicted about whether I would link that vid for you folks. Not because it does not deserve it, exactly.

It’s just that I hate cigarettes and find them incredibly gross, and so I was not sure I could stomach sharing something so nicotine intensive with you nice people.

But this guy, Tom Mullica, is just so damn talented that I could not resist. His patter, his facial expressions, his audience rapport, and his absolutely exquisite timing all make me really like this guy, even if the whole cigarette thing grosses me out.

When I watched the clip, I was hoping against all reason that he was using sleight of hand, but no, clearly he is beyond superb at the always a little dubious “swallow” magic, where the magician learns to partially swallow, store, and retrieve objects at will.

Including lit cigs. Eww.

Still, I have to admire the guy’s showmanship. He really knows what he is doing. I tip my imaginary hat to his skill.

Because then I don’t need toilet paper. LOL. Eww, but… LOL.

And finally, a guy who has kept many of us entertained over the years…

A Savage Obsession

… especially those of us who like science and explosions!

You would not think someone talking about their obsession with making their own dodo skeleton and their very own Maltese Falcon would be so damn interesting and compelling, but when it’s Adam Savage of Mythbusters fame and he injects it all with his unique brand of breathless, infectious enthusiasm, you just can’t help but be swept along for the ride.

In many way, I envy his ability to be obsessed with things. I seem to lack that ability. All my fellow nerds seem to have their pet obsessions, but I have never operated like that. I tend to sort of take what floats my way and not aggressively pursue any one particular interest or another for very long.

Partly, that is just my passive personality. Another part of it is my tendency to resist anything that has no obvious end point.

But mostly, I think it is the way I go through live at right angles to everyone else. I drift sideways through channels, never staying in one for all that long, because I am more interested in what is going on in the next channel over.

It gives me a very broad point of view, but shallow compared to people who have certain things they know a great deal about.

I guess I am just into a little of everything. A dedicated generalist to the end.

So who knows what I will post next?