563. Quickie Web: Video: Megaminx December 20, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Plaything, Quickie Web.add a comment
The Bright Idea: the Megaminx, a Rubiks Cube on steriods. The video: some guy solving it in a minute and a half. Via Neatorama.
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556. Quickie Web: Video: Balloon Bowl October 10, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Quickie Web, Video.2 comments
Put 8,000 balloons in a swimming pool. Then videotape your buddy skating through it. Looks fun. Via Neatorama.
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549. Quickie Web: Video: the Incredible Machine October 4, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Quickie Web, Video.add a comment
Here are some great Japanese Rube Goldbergs from some TV show. There are a bunch of them on this clip, which is about 9 minutes long (ok, so this clip is not so “quickie”). It has close to a million views on Youtube; Via HackedGadgets.
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544. Quickie Web: Video: Reflection September 28, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Quickie Web, Video.1 comment so far
Here is a funny 2:30 Rorschachish clip. Creative and simple. By JamesNintendoNerd.
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532. Quickie Web: Video: Unlocking a Door September 21, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Quickie Web, Video.add a comment
This college student came up with this Bright Idea on how to unlock a door. This clip is 50 seconds long, via Make.
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508. Quickie Web: Plaything: Morpthing September 11, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Plaything, Quickie Web, Website.add a comment
Blend faces of two celebrities (from hundreds of choices) or photos you upload. I tried a couple of combinations in an attempt to make the most beautiful woman ever, but since they don’t have photos of Helen of Troy and Cleopatra, I had to settle for Jessifer (Jessica Alba + Jennifer Lopez). Try it out HERE; via Ursi’sBlog.
(P.S. Honey, I was too lazy to upload a picture of you, my dear wife. A blend of you and your twin would actually be the most beautiful creature of all time. In all the parallel universes out there. Can I buy that XBox 360, now?)
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497. Quickie Web: Video: Chaotic Pendulum September 7, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Product, Quickie Web, Video.add a comment
Witness random motion in this video clip. At first, the pendulum swings typically. But once the joint is loosened, the second segment flails about in a jerky dance. This clip would be even more fun to watch if LED lights were placed on the joint and the tip, with the lights off (in video, and as photographs with prolonged exposures). Via Make (where you can also learn to make your own).
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458. Quickie Web: Video: Kill the Gun August 23, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Quickie Web, Video.1 comment so far
Here is a visually engaging 1-minute video clip that also has a worthy message. Watch the damage a bullet can do, in slow-motion. Via FreshCreation.
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456. Quickie Web: Game: Paintball August 23, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.1 comment so far
No paintball shooting here, this fun and different game requires you to paint/draw white lines to get your red bouncing ball to the red square goal. Play it HERE; via RGS.
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453. Quickie Web: Video: How to seal a bag without a clip August 20, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Quickie Web, Video.add a comment
If you don’t feel like buying QuickSeals (above), a chip clip, or binder clip, follow these directions to seal a bag without using any additional items (25 second video). Shnifty.
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452. Quickie Web: Game: Bomb Wars August 20, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.add a comment
For an engaging challenge, use the arrow keys and space bar to lob bombs at your opponent. Play a round HERE; via GameLife.
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440. Quickie Web: Game: Thor Towers August 16, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.2 comments
This game is incredibly simple, but unusually compelling, at least for a few moments. Press the space bar to drop each swaying block, attempting to stack as straight and stable a tower as possible. After several attempts and getting as high as 25 blocks, I eventually lost interest. Give it a try HERE; via GameLife.
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406. Quickie Web: Flash: HBOVoyeur July 26, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Marketing, Quickie Web, Website.1 comment so far
Here is a little distraction for you: peep on people. You can visually access various sections of this building, sans sound (there is background music). Zoom out (click on the icon at top) to see other rooms in other city buildings (click on the purple highlights). Click on “Learn More” below for a little more info about the voyees.
This website is part of HBO’s new On-Demand series, HBOVoyeur. Check it out HERE; via JoshSpear.
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403. Quickie Web: Game: Statetris July 25, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.add a comment
Fun game + Education = Bright Idea.
Slide the states into place Tetris-like. This game is probably more relevant/interesting for my US readers. Let’s hope for the World version will soon be produced (or separate continent versions, excluding the Australian version, obviously). Play a round HERE; via Neatorama.
P.S. Here are the versions for Europe and Africa.
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398. Quickie Web: Game: Cursor Invisible July 24, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.1 comment so far
Break the incoming plates without seeing where your mouse is pointing (hence the title, Cursor Invisible). An original twist on a common game play mechanic. Play a few rounds HERE; via GameLife.
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390. Quickie Web: Video: Bright Birds July 23, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Quickie Web, Video.add a comment
Here are quick clips of two birds coming up with some Bright Ideas (via Neatorama):
The first is a bird that hitches a ride on a moving car. I watched the entire thing to verify that the little guy wasn’t stuck (he isn’t). You only need to watch a few seconds to appreciate this crafty fellow.
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The second is a of a tool-using bird. This New Caledonian crow eventually bends a piece of wire to form a hook to retrieve an object in a tube. The clip is 38 seconds long. Link here.
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387. Quickie Web: Plaything: Monoface July 18, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Plaything, Quickie Web.1 comment so far
Monoface is an amusing and well-produced website where you create thousands of different faces by “mix-n-matching” the various mouths, noses, heads, and eyes. Have fun. Check it out HERE; via Neatorama.
I can see why everyone here is white, but the next version should have all races, with a skin tone adjuster (to make a smooth overall color match).
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382. Quickie Web: Game: Star Shine July 17, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.add a comment
Like the calming bear below, this game is soothing, as well as a relatively original puzzle game. With pleasant piano music in the background, shoot your star to cause the others to light up in a chain reaction. It gets quite difficult after a few stages. Play it HERE; via RGS.
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380. Quickie Web: Video: Honda’s Cog Commercial July 17, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Marketing, Quickie Web, Video.add a comment
This is a truly amazing Rube Goldbergesque commercial by Honda. Only 2 minutes long, with no CGI, it took 1 month to approve the script, 2 months for concept drawings, and 4 months in development and testing. The commercial cost 6 million dollars and required 606 takes (source). Via FreshCreation.
And below is a 4 minute video of what went on behind the scenes.
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376. Quickie Web: Plaything: Snowdays July 16, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Plaything, Quickie Web.add a comment
This is an engaging and whimsical snowflake creator. Create your own unique hexagonal beauty with Snowday’s simple and easy online interface. Users can post their snowflakes online to share, with the option of adding messages. Check it out HERE; via Neatorama.
373. Quickie Web: Video: the Human Slinky July 13, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Person, Quickie Web, Video.add a comment
I just happened to come across this clip, and was mesmerized for a few moments. A creative, original, and bizarre performance, which begins after the dude stops talking (about 20 seconds in). Veniamin’s website here.
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367. Quickie Web: Game: Orb July 11, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.add a comment
Orb is another original and exciting game. The balls will race towards your mouse pointer, but don’t let them touch you. Instead, maneuver them so they crash into the boxes. Trust me: it’s fun. With pumpin’ music. Play it HERE; by Kalinium; Via RandomGoodStuff.
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358. Quickie Web: Game: Bloxorz June 25, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.1 comment so far
Bloxorz is a brilliant and fun puzzle game. Tumble your rectangular unit to the escape hole without falling off of the playing surface. Higher levels incorporate varied additions to the challenge, like gates with switches, fragile surfaces, and teleportation. Play it HERE; via GameLife.
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355. Quickie Web: Video: Beat Box Kitchen June 21, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Person, Quickie Web, Video.add a comment
Check out the extremely talented Beardyman vizualize beat boxing for you in this creative presentation (3.3 minutes long).
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353. Quickie Web: Game: Flute Hero June 20, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.10 comments
Last night, my good friend Ben was telling me how much fun he and his wife were having playing Guitar Hero 2. For those of us who don’t own an XBox 360, here is a free and similar game: Flute Hero.
Use your keyboard’s number keys to synchronize with the indicated musical notes. HumBugg: there should only be 8 notes, since thumbs are awkward to use when playing. Well-produced, fun, and frustrating. Play it HERE; via GameLife.
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340. Quickie Web: Game: Shuffle June 11, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.2 comments
Here is a quick and fun amusement. Use your red balls to knock all the yellow balls off the table. Sounds simple and boring, but it is quite playable, with some potential for strategy and depth, and makes me want to play a non-computer version against a friend. In a bar. With the loser buying drinks. Play it HERE; Via GameLife.
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332. Quickie Web: Game: Crazy Ladybugs June 4, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.add a comment
Try this entirely original game. There are various ladybugs are rotating at different speeds. Holding down your mouse button makes them all stop spinning and crawl forward. The Goal: make the bugs bump into each other (and disappear), leaving only one bug left, without letting any fall off the stump (i.e. the playing surface).
OK, it sounds a little silly, but see if you can complete the game (about a dozen rounds). Bonus: great sound effects. Play it HERE; via GameLife.com.
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329. Quickie Web: Videos: Water Balloons May 31, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Quickie Web, Video.add a comment
Here are three neat slow-motion clips of water balloons:
1) Bouncing balloon, not exploding (32 seconds)
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2) Balloon exploding (42 seconds)
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3) Ballon exploding on someone’s face (48 seconds)
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326. Quickie Web: Video: the Rotapult May 29, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Art, Product, Quickie Web, Video.add a comment
The Rotapult is a complex and pointless contraption which performs a simple but mesmerizing function. This video is 2:50 minutes long, but quickly jump to 1 minute in to see the various interesting camera angles.
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323. Quickie Web: Video: Reverspective Illusion May 22, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Art, Optical Illusion, Quickie Web, Video.3 comments
I recently filmed this eye-bending illusion at ArtDC. Video is sufficiently able to capture the effect of this painting, but when I first saw this in person, I thought I was hallucinating. Check out this 1-minute clip. Find the artist’s website HERE.
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SparkBugg.com 