Debunking third-world myths with the best stats you've ever seen

You've never seen data presented like this. With the drama and urgency of a sportscaster, Hans Rosling debunks myths about the so-called "developing world" using extraordinary animation software developed by his Gapminder Foundation. The Trendalyzer software (recently acquired by Google) turns complex global trends into lively animations, making decades of data pop. Asian countries, as colorful bubbles, float across the grid -- toward better national health and wealth. Animated bell curves representing national income distribution squish and flatten. In Rosling's hands, global trends -- life expectancy, child mortality, poverty rates -- become clear, intuitive and even playful.


See also:

• Gapminder World
  
• Download Hans Rosling's talk in full SD resolution
  

  

Goodbye to the Normals

Goodbye to the Normals is a British short film, which follows a fictional story about a small boy running away from home. The film was originally broadcast in the UK by Channel 4 and is currently touring the film festival circuit, either on its own or as part of the British Council Festival Submission Scheme. The song you can hear during the film is "Burslem Normals", written and performed by Robbie Williams.

Sea lion does Michael Jackson

This is a very funny sequel to the Rocking Parrot post in which Sea Lion dances to Michael Jackson's song.

Putin Haling a Taxi

An amazing short film about ex-president of Russia catching a taxi to get to Kremlin.

Here is the dialog:

[Mariachi music plays loud when Putin opens the door...]

01:24 Putin: Good evening, would you mind giving me a lift to Kremlin? I have lagged behind my escort...
01:29 Driver: Chu now da road?
01:30 Putin: Not very well, I'm from Saint Petersburgh
01:34 Driver: 'ow much?
01:35 Putin: Mmmm, I don't really know, 200 rubles...
01:39 Driver: Escucha, you gimme 300 and we go
01:42 Putin: No, I'm not going for 300, I'm sorry
02:06 Driver: Bueno, let's go
02:12 Putin: I'm sorry, may we?
02:16 Driver: 's ok, I got my own



P.S. Gracias a Luke por making Georgian sound like Spanglish :-)

American History in a Food Fight

Food Fight by Stefan Nadelman is an abridged history of American-centric war, from World War II to present day, told through the foods of the countries in conflict. Watch as traditional comestibles slug it out for world domination in this chronologically re-enacted smorgasbord of aggression.



See also:

• Food Fights's web site
  
• Cast: who is who in the battle

A BREAKDOWN OF THE BATTLES

1. The World
   
2. WWII - Holocaust / French surrender / London Bombing / Pearl Harbor / Battle of Midway / D-day / fall of Berlin / Hiroshima
   
3. Arab-Israeli War
   
   
   • Brits leave Israel
     
   • Israel expands territory
   
   
4. Korean War
   
   
   • China and Russia back the North
     
   • The US back the South
   
   
5. Cuban Missile Crisis
   
6. Viet Nam
   
   
   • China and Russia back the North
     
   • The US back the South
   
   
7. Cold War
   
   
   • Arms race
   
   
8. Intifada
   
9. Gulf War
   
   
   • Iraq invades Kuwait
     
   • Scuds
     
   • Smart bomb
   
   
10. 9/11
    
11. Afghanistan
    
12. Gulf War II
    
    
    • Shock and awe
      
    • IED
    
    
13. Bug Food
    

Stefan Nadelman FAQs:

• The food in this film was consumed either by Stefan or his dog after shooting. None of the cast went to waste.
  
• The software used was photoshop and after effects.
  
• The film took me 3 months to do.
  
• Although it seems like stop motion, most of it was stop motion created within After effects, using keyframe animation. Stefan is basically moving the food around within the the program, frame by frame, which is the same as traditional stop motion, only it's digital.
  

Happy Women's Day!

Dear Ladies,

My warmest wishes on the International Women Day! You rock, rule and cool this world and here is a very special gift for you for such an occasion ;-)

HAPPY WOMEN'S DAY!!!

Newton Virus

In the beginning were harmless computer viruses. Viruses born out of the wit of early computer adopters, viruses whose sole purpose was to surprise and amuse. A non-destructive form of artificial life.

We wanted to revive this golden era, and went on to create our first computer virus. We chose to do it for mac as the platform is still a virgin territory ;-)



Spice up your colleagues' day with our Newton Virus, the first virus to introduce gravity to your laptop, causing the desktop icons to fall down as if subject to the gravitational pull from the real world.

Newton Virus comes on a USB key for manual infection. Simply plug the key into a computer and the virus will automatically copy itself on the hard drive.

The virus will then hit at random, but only once. It will not replicate itself, mail itself to your friends or destroy any of your files, but instead provides you with moments of blissful surprise and magic.

Credits:
Concept & Design: Troika
Programming: Mauritius Seeger - Dr Mo

Source: Newton Virus by Troika

Ao mestre com Carinho

If you thought what I thought every time he started a new drawing, you need to see a doctor :-) A very funny speed drawing by Mauricio Ricardo under the cover of Os Seminovos...



P.S. "Ao mestre com Carinho" apparently means "To the master with Affection" whatever that one means :-)

Ah, L'Amour

"Ah, L'Amour", is a bitter film by Don Hertzfeldt. To be honest, I don't understand most of his cartoons, but that usually only prooves that the author is a really good artist: every time I see that people's oppinions are polarized on something - it means the artist did something really outstanding, distinct or cult. This episode is pretty funny though and even I could enjoy it :-)

Firefighters' Party Trick

Firefighters are having fun sometimes too ...