Let's Just Relive The 2016 Olympics Closing Ceremony

The 2016 Olympics in Rio were marred by all kinds of controversy, from pools that allegedly had dangerous levels of toxicity to Ryan Lochte's fictional account of being robbed at gunpoint. But the closing ceremonies were a good reminder of why the Olympics are so cool. And one of the highlights was the "passing of the torch" from Rio to Tokyo, the host of the 2020 Olympics.

After a montage of Japanese athletes flipping, kicking and jumping over the architecture of downtown Tokyo, Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made quite the grand entrance: through a giant green warp pipe dressed as Mario. Might the mustachioed plumber make an appearance in the next summer games?

Can You Escape The Room On Instagram?

Even if you haven't participated into an "Escape the Room" experience, you've likely heard about it. A group of people work together to solve clues in a room, trying to figure out enough information in a set amount of time so that they can escape said room. It's thrilling, it's intense, and now it's on Instagram.

The work, done by Red Lion Canada, is being promoted by the Toronto Silent Film Festival to help spread the word about its program. See if you can be one of the lucky few who have made it out of the room intact.

Austin Now Has Its Own Wakeboard Cable Park

Next Level Ride, a wakeboard cable park owned and operated by husband and wife team, Curt and Niki Sotkovski, just opened off of Highway 71. The pair joined a wakeboarding team in college, and that hobby turned into full-fledged passion, culminating in the creation of the Austin park.

A wakeboarding cable park is a man-made body of water, surrounded by large towers that connect a cable. A wakeboarder holds onto the cable as he or she is pulled around on the water navigating obstacles like ramps and rails. 

At Next Level Ride, the majority of the obstacles are custom-made by the Next Level Ride team. Riders of all ages can enjoy this fast growing outdoor water sport, even if you're as wildly inexperienced as me. Curt and Niki’s sons, Jackson (six years old) and Maddox (four years old) are getting the hang of it as they get lessons from their parents and Park Manager, Mike Pempsell on the Little Bro smaller cable. And if they can pull it off, anyone can.

The core Next Level Ride team have all graduated with kinesiology degrees, and are invested in helping people learn how to get their boarding on.

Even more events and obstacles will be added in the coming months, but for now, passes to the park can be purchased at http://nextlevelrideaustin.com. So take advantage of living in a place with nice weather 345 days of the year and catch a few waves! You'll have fun and make the Beach Boys proud. Win-win all around.

Paul Rudd and Jimmy Fallon Play Drinko, A Parody of Plinko

Jimmy Fallon was absent from The Tonight Show for two weeks due to a horrifying "ring aversion" injury. Do not Google it. It's not worth it. Basically his finger came off and was sideways after he got his wedding ring caught on a countertop while he was slipping on a rug. Ouch.

Fortunately, he's recovered now, and is able to play Drinko with Paul Rudd, which appears to be a parody of Plinko from The Price is Right, which requires the host and Rudd to drink things. Also ouch. This whole thing gets a thumbs up from me for Rudd's obscure 2XL reference. I loved that toy growing up.

This Table Tennis Rally Is Absolutely Ridiculous

Who'd have thought that table tennis, or ping pong as it's often colloquially called, could be so entertaining to watch? At the Commonwealth Games, Nigeria's Segun Toriola pulled the Hot Cup of Joey technique (aka "the backboard," or just defending a lot of shots) against Singapore's Ning Gao during the event in Glasgow.

It's amazing. 41 shots in all, and a lot of them are insane returns off heavy smashes. Well done all around.

NFL Championship Picks

Joey makes his picks for the AFC and NFC Championship games. He is probably going to be wrong on both of them. But oh well. Go big or go home!

8-Bit Olympics

The 8-Bit Games! from Flikli on Vimeo.

Yes, of course we love our Olympic games. Especially when they're reminiscent of Super Nintendo. Check out this really cool video by animating studio Flikli, which showcases all of the favorites in glorious 8-bit...well, glory. You've got gymnastics, basketball, pole vaulting...so many good ones. Really well done.