Saturday, January 30

Super Bakery Bros. Shows Super Mario Bros. In Cake Form




Super Mario Bros. is a wonderful game, and cake is delightful. Pair the two together, and you can't go wrong. Check out the above video to see how a sibling duo designed a cake and created a stop motion video recreating the first level of Super Mario Bros.

Perhaps more interesting is the behind the scenes video, which shows how everything came together. Pretty fascinating stuff, and maybe it'll teach you how to make a stop motion video yourself!

Thursday, January 28

Locally Sourced Joey: Just Gotta Be Free(lancing) with Jess Warren




The latest episode of Locally Sourced Joey is out, and it's chock full of goodies. In today's episode, Joey is joined by graphic designer Jess Warren. The two talk about taking the plunge from full-time employee to freelancer, how to develop a new card game, and tools that'll help you stop wasting time and start getting things done. Listen along, won't you?

Fun fact: Producing a podcast can be quite costly! I would love any support for Locally Sourced Joey, which you can provide either via 1) Leaving a review on iTunes or 2) Providing a donation. Thanks very much for listening!

Wednesday, January 27

1994 Vin Diesel Really Loves Street Sharks




Vin Diesel has made a career of utilizing his deep voice to portray tough guys. Starring in movies like every Fast and Furious ever and XXX, Diesel is a familiar face onscreen.

What you may not know is that, back in the mid-90s, Diesel was starring in very different roles. "Lost footage" of his appearance at a toy fair has just surfaced, and he is pitching Street Sharks like nobody's business. When he encourages you to "say hello to that round mound of pound," you better listen.

Tuesday, January 26

Is Peyton Manning About To Retire?


Peyton Manning, 39, is already the oldest quarterback to ever play in a Super Bowl. And with #50 on the horizon, Manning may be thinking of calling it quits.



One of the many microphones that is way too close to the players and coaches after the Broncos/Patriots game on Sunday picked up a conversation between Manning and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.

Manning told Belichick "this might be my last rodeo" and that "it sure has been a pleasure." Belichick responded by calling Manning a "great competitor."

If this really is Manning's swan song, it's been one heck of a career. We'll see if he can pull off another Super Bowl victory against the favored Carolina Panthers. Then the ol' rodeo will truly be ready to leave town.

B.o.B Thinks The World Is Flat

B.o.B is an Atlanta rapper whose music I like (well, some of his songs) but who seems to be kind of an idiot. First he skipped out on a bill after a night out at the bar, and now he's spouting off his belief that Earth is flat. Observe:



He appears to be serious about his question. Despite naysayers coming in and being like "come on, man," Bobby Ray still ain't buying the curves. He even suggested NASA hasn't given us a straight answer.





Stay tuned on the latest B.o.B dumb updates by checking out his Twitter account. Maybe someday he'll pretend that airplanes in the night sky are flying over a round earth.


Friday, January 22

Kevin Hart and Ice Cube Take On Manchester City's Joe Hart




Kevin Hart and Ice Cube are starring in Ride Along 2, which will surely have a great return at the box office, even though it's gotten terrible reviews. To help promote the film, Kevin Hart took on his brother from another mother, Manchester City keeper Joe Hart. See how Kevin does at a trio of penalty shots (hint: there's a lot of trash talk). Enjoy!

Wednesday, January 20

Kevin Garnett Slaps Ryan Anderson In The Face, Anderson Is Called For Foul




Kevin Garnett has long had a reputation as kind of an underhanded player. Some fellow NBAers have straight up called him dirty. Even if you don't believe that, he's definitely gotten away with some things, so to speak.

Now, at age 39, KG is still going strong. In Minnesota's laughably bad loss to the Pelicans, a game they lost 114-99 even though they were once winning by 17, Garnett was running down the court. He thought the Pelicans' Ryan Anderson got in his way...so he SLAPPED HIM IN THE FACE. Naturally, Anderson was called for the foul, because...well, it's KG. The officials even reviewed the play and still left the foul on Anderson. Would you expect anything less?

This House Cat Is Huge And Terrifies Its Neighbors




This huge house cat in San Jose weighs 27 pounds. That's ABSURD. So it's no surprise that neighbors have often called Animal Control, because, you know...that's a mini bobcat in some areas. But Spock the Cat is one of the most gentle creatures around. Check him out in action.

Monday, January 18

A YouTuber Made A Choose Your Own Adventure Of Super Smash Bros. Melee, And It's Delightful




A YouTuber with the wonderful name of Stabby McKniferson has created a Tool Assisted Speedplay (TAS) version of the popular game Super Smash Bros. Melee. Unlike other TAS efforts, though, this one follows a "Choose Your Own Adventure" style of play.

You take control of Fox McCloud, and the game slows down at various points while you select an action via annotated links that send you to another video. Some of them will cause you to lose, and others will bring sweet glory. It's a pretty terrific spin on an already solid game. Go ahead, see how many tries it takes to successfully navigate Fox to victory lane.

Kylo Ren Goes Undercover On SNL




Saturday Night Live came back for its first episode of 2016 last night, and while the start was pre-empted by football (let's learn how to defend a Hail Mary, okay NFL?), there were still some quality sketches. One was a pre-recorded parody of Undercover Boss, with host Adam Driver portraying Kylo Ren, his character from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Check out the clip above, and see if being a dark overlord is all its cracked up to be. Will the minions figure out radar technician "Matt" is really their boss? Let's find out!

Sunday, January 17

Apparently Alan Rickman Appeared In A Simpsons Episode While A David Bowie Song Played




2016 has started off on a rocky note for celebrities, as both David Bowie and Alan Rickman passed away before we were even halfway through January. And now, an old Simpsons episode is making the rounds because both of the Brits were featured in there.

The episode, from The Simpsons' 24th season, is called "Love is a Many-Splintered Thing" and features Bart, Homer, and some other randoms watching a British film. Benedict Cumberbatch says some stuff, Alan Rickman briefly comments on it, and "All the Young Dudes," written by David Bowie, is playing in the background. FOX's Animation Domination is calling it a tribute, but really, this is just a clip from an old episode resurfacing. So maybe don't refer to it as a tribute if you're just using it to promote newer episodes, okay FOX?

Friday, January 15

Rappin' Obama Is Back, This Time To The Tune Of "Forgot About Dre"




You may remember earlier this year when the Detroit Pistons released a video of Barack Obama rapping to Drake in order to endorse Pistons center Andre Drummond for the All-Star Game.

Well, Detroit's media team is back at it, giving us another Obama cut. This time, he's rapping to the 2001 Dr. Dre/Eminem hit, "Forgot About Dre." If the Pistons have their way, nobody will be forgetting about Drummond anytime soon.

Wednesday, January 13

It Takes Less Than Two Minutes For Just Cause 3 To Go Nuts




Apparently the game Just Cause 3 can simply play itself. Watch as a guy runs through the game without pressing a single button. Within two minutes, the world turns into a mess of car collisions, explosions, fainting, and anything other negative thing you can think of. It's pretty spectacular to witness, so enjoy!

Tuesday, January 12

Vikings and Seahawks Fans React To Blair Walsh's Missed Field Goal Attempt




When Blair Walsh lined up for a 27-yard kick in the NFC Wild Card round, Vikings and Seahawks fans were all on the edge of their seats. The Vikes were down 10-9, all of their points being scored by Walsh. But he hooked his fourth attempt wide left, and...well, the reactions were all over the place. Check out some of them above.

Monday, January 11

"Inside Out" Without The Inside Voices Is Really Just A Movie About Hockey


Inside Out: Outside Edition from Jordan Hanzon on Vimeo.

Pixar's Inside Out is a delightful return to form for the company. The movie follows Riley, an 11-year old girl whose family moves from Minnesota to San Francisco. While most people would find that an upgrade, Riley does not. She misses her friends, her hockey team, and soon, her insides, controlled by five emotions–Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust–start going crazy.

Those five emotions make up the bulk of the actual movie. But film student Jordan Hanzon wasn't a fan of the emotions (or maybe he just got a request to do this). He created a cut of the film that's roughly 15 minutes long, and only consists of the "outside" scenes of Riley and her family. The movie is a bit more darker, and a lot more about hockey. Check it out and enjoy.

Sunday, January 10

How To Be A Better Sports Parent



One of my favorite memories of childhood was playing youth league sports. What's not to like? It's playing a sport with your friends. I was fortunate to have parents that let me enjoy myself and didn't put pressure on me to win, but not everyone can be so lucky.

Fortunately, for those parents that might be a little more into the games, sport psychology coach Dr. Rob Bell, along with Bill Parisi, have authored the book Don’t Should On Your Kids: Build Their Mental Toughness to provide tips and advice for not just parents, but anyone in a leadership role.

Why does it seem like parents have gotten even more involved and intense in the past decade or two?

"There's a lot more financial investment, a lot more emotional investment," Dr. Bell says. "Parents want that return on investment."

Among the tips Dr. Bell recommends is to remember that no athlete is perfect. There will always be disappointment, but that just makes the successful moments that much sweeter.

"Every athlete I've ever worked with, every single one," says Dr. Bell, "has choked at some point. That's the only way you can really be great. It's not about the setback, it's about the comeback."

And when a child does make a mistake during a game, don't let it ruin the car ride home. Emotions are running high, after all.

"Do not have that conversation in the car ride home," he said. "Set up designated times where everyone is cool, calm and collected, whether it's after dinner or when you get home. The conversation will be much better for everyone."

Finally, make sure everyone's heart is in the right place. When I worked at a basketball camp, there were a handful of kids who clearly didn't want to be there. It wasn't fun for anyone, and I hope those parents realized the dissatisfaction of their children. Be cognizant of your child's best interests.

"You can't want it more than them," he says. "If you want it more than your son or daughter, the motivation's wrong."

If you're a coach, consider Don’t Should On Your Kids: Build Their Mental Toughness for the parents of every athlete. And if you're a parent that may just be a bit too invested, learn how to make sports even more enjoyable for both yourself and your child.

Saturday, January 9

The Simpsons Intro Couch Gag Is About To Get Real 80s




One of the highlights of The Simpsons, even after all these years, is the couch gag during the opening credits. On Sunday, the show is going full-on retro.

The episode, "Teenage Mutant Milk-Caused Hurdles," opens with Homer as a Don Johnson knockoff, taking his couch, the La-Z Rider across town. Flanders is a villain, Sofia Vergara is a guest star on the episode, and you'll have "Push It To The Limit" stuck in your head all day. You're welcome.

Friday, January 8

Conan O'Brien, Ice Cube And Kevin Hart Help A Student Driver


You may remember a couple years ago when Conan O'Brien was joined by Ice Cube and Kevin Hart as they invaded a Lyft driver's car. Well, as luck would have it, Ride Along 2 is coming out soon, so the dynamic duo paid Conan a visit once again.

This time, they're joining student driver Diana, who apparently knows a friend of mine. Very exciting stuff. They help her get a piñata full of weed, score some Popeyes, and teach her to always have batteries in your car to throw at bad drivers. All in a day's work.

President Obama Endorses Andre Drummond For All-Star Game...Kind Of





Pistons center Andre Drummond is having a career year, averaging 17.9 points and 15.7 rebounds a game, which is A) absurd, and B) leading the league. He's also helping Detroit stick around in a bid for a lower playoff spot, which is pretty impressive considering how bad the team has been the past decade or so.

In order to help convince fans to vote for him, Drummond and the Pistons released a video quoting none other than President Barack Obama. Okay, so it's really just a bunch of clips of Obama's speeches set to Drake's "Jumpman," but it's a good move nonetheless. Let's see how it plays out in the polls.

Thursday, January 7

Kanye West Performs "Gold Digger" On American Idol




The final season (seems like we say this every year) of American Idol debuted yesterday, and during West Coast auditions, there was a surprise guest: Mr. Kanye West! Yeezy himself donned Idol's famous audition stage. Not sure if he has what it takes to make it to the top, but he's quite good at name dropping. And sometimes, that's all you need in this industry. Go get 'em, 'ye.

Tuesday, January 5

Guy Beats Fallout 3 In Less Than 15 Minutes, Not Sure If Impressed Or Just Very Sad




YouTuber Rydou beat the game Fallout 3 in 14 minutes and 54 seconds, which is some kind of record. I always enjoy watching a speed run, though it's less spectacular in my book if I've never played the game. I've never played Fallout 3, but I'm sure this will blow someone's mind, so enjoy.

Sunday, January 3

Marcus Peters Tells Charles Woodson: "I'm Not Worthy"




The Chiefs beat the Raiders 23-17 in a fairly nondescript season finale Sunday. But it was notable for being Charles Woodson's final game. The illustrious Raider had a terrific 18-year career in Oakland and Green Bay, and said this season would be his last.

Marcus Peters is a rookie who tied for the league lead in interceptions this year. He's just happy to be on the same field as Woodson, and after the game, gave him a "we're not worthy" bow and hug. Special moment for two fantastic players, and hats off to Woodson for a great few decades of play.

Saturday, January 2

Impractical Jokers Is Such A Wonderful Show




Lately I've been binge-watching Impractical Jokers, a show on TruTV. Yes, I'm just as surprised as you that TruTV has shows that aren't basketball games during March Madness. But this is a terrific one.

The basic premise is these four guys play pranks on unsuspecting victims, but the pranks usually aren't mean like a ton of other prank shows, they're more quirky than anything else. And the other jokers feed the lines to the person performing the prank, so they don't know what they're about to say until it's coming out of their mouths. It's fantastic, and I cannot remember the last time I laughed so hard at a show.

This clip might not be the best, but the enthusiasm shown over making a sandwich made me giggle uncontrollably for minutes the first time I watched it. And it still does watching it right now. Enjoy.

Tim Frazier Throws Over The Backboard Alley-Oop To Noah Vonleh




The Portland Trailblazers have been a disappointment overall this season, despite the fact both C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard are both averaging more than 20 points per game. But the Pacific Northwest's team still puts on some great moves, including this crazy over the backboard oop from Tim Frazier to Noah Vonleh. Sure, the Blazers still lost 109-96, but hey, it's a good highlight.