Category Archives: Video

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A new animated interview from the PBS Blank On Blank series.

Joe Smith recalls a meeting with George Michael in 1986.

To wit:

George Michael was 23 when he sat for this interview, which has never been broadcast before. He had just embarked on his solo career after leaving Wham!. During the conversation, George Michael talks about his sexuality and shedding his pop-ballad persona á la Careless Whisper. He sounds confident in striking out on his own and sees a clear path to super stardom, but he openly talks about the fear that lurks within that fame might be his demise. He reflects on the power of his fame, as he recalls the historic trip Wham! took to play in communist-China in 1985.

curiousbrain

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On Thin Ice (På Tynn Is) is not your average skateboarding video. To wit:

Ice, driftwood, foamy waves and … skateboards? Four skaters head north to the cold Norwegian coast, applying their urban skills to a wild canvas of beach flotsam, frozen sand and pastel skies. The result is a beautiful mashup — biting winds and short days, ollies and a frozen miniramp.

A teaser short for a longer feature available here.

kottke

Photo shoot of the 2010 PSA in progress. A robot called Shimon played the marimba while Caity Jimenez played the drums.

Georgia Tech’s improvisational robotic marimba player Shimon joins a jazz band on stage at Washington’s Kennedy Centre. To wit:

Georgia Tech’s Robotic Musicians and Musical Cyborgs features Shimon, the robotic marimba player, alongside other robotic musicians and a drummer who wears an assistive robotic drumming prosthesis. Shimon utilizes artificial intelligence and creativity algorithms that push musical experiences and outcomes to uncharted domains.

Niiiice.

laughingsquid

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A fascinating time lapse video by wildlife filmmaker Francis Chee of cell division in a developing frog egg, as it splits from two cells into several million over the course of 33 hours. Chee sez:

… it was done with a custom designed microscope based on the “infinity optical design” It is not available by any manufacturer. I built it. I used LEDs and relevant optics to light the egg. They too were custom designed by me. The whole microscope sits on anti-vibration table. I have to say that it doesn’t matter too much what microscope people use to perform this. There are countless other variables involved in performing this tricky shot, such as for example: the ambient temperature during shooting; the time at which the eggs were collected; the handling skills of the operator; the type of water used; lenses; quality of camera etc etc.

kottke