The video’s a little self-promotional, but it’s still pretty cool to see the hugeness of the Wuskwatim Generating Station as it’s being assembled in northern Manitoba.

The $1.3 billion dam will generate 200 MW when it’s complete, sometime next year.

Manitoba Hydro also has a convenient “How To Build A Generating Station” tour, in case you’ve got $1.3 billion of your own money burning a hole in your pocket.

And, I found this video, taking a look at some of the earlier stages of construction, if you’d like to see some of the exterior dam works.

Manitoba Hydro, for what it’s worth, provides my power, although I pay them for the privilege.

Amy found this video this morning. It sort of reminded me of that scene in Jurassic Park (“They’re moving like birds. They DO move like birds!”) but because it’s real, it’s a little bit more magical. Although composted of individuals, the flock seems to move as a single living organism.

A two-and-a-half-year-old article in the Telegraph explains the reasons behind the flock’s swooping patterns:

It’s all about safety in numbers – none wants to be on the outside, none wants to be first to land …. Impenetrable as the flock’s movements might seem to the human eye, the underlying maths is comparatively straightforward. Each bird strives to fly as close to its neighbours as possible, instantly copying any changes in speed or direction. As a result, tiny deviations by one bird are magnified and distorted by those surrounding it, creating rippling, swirling patterns. In other words, this is a classic case of mathematical chaos

The grown-up, ethical part of me wants to protest at the inhumane treatment that lions must endure to be “tamed” — but the rest of me is sitting, mouth agog, at this wonderful pre-Internet newsreel footage.

‘Tis the human condition.

(British Pathe, via Boing Boing)

We found this video by merely searching “Halloween” on YouTube, and then we killed ourselves laughing.

It’s “Thriller”. You can’t go wrong! And, if you don’t have 15 minutes, well, first stop lying to me, of course you do. And second, here’s the best part of the whole video, in 1/15th of a minute:

While needlessly violent, I’m pretty sure this is an accurate representation of that one time the video’s creator dropped acid and got lost in an A&B Sound.

(from Devour, via someone on Facebook)

A surprisingly touching paean to life after a zombie apocalypse. Tender, despite being told from the point of view of a zombie protagonist. A zombie protagonist in a penguin suit.

It’s apparently based on the short story “What’s Black and White and Red All Over?” by Hugo Garza.

Find out more: Zombie in a Penguin Suit.

It’s a documentary! About beer! And about how it saved the world. Heck, saved it? More like created it! And built the pyramids. And invented math and poetry!

And in the future? Beer’s taking us to space, man. For reals.

Source: How Beer Saved the World | Watch Free Documentary Online.

If Keith and I ever get around to making that cartoon series about cowboys that I’ve alluded to before, this could come in handy. But in the meantime, it’s still a fun — and informative! — look at the many ways life as a cowboy could be, uh, cut short.

(via Coudal)

In any case: food and booze. Yes.

Often the two are inextricably intertwined, but never moreso than in Hanna Hart’s ongoing (?) web series “My Drunk Kitchen.” In each episode, this young lady gets drunk and makes food, all the while dispensing wisdom of a sort.

I have embedded the most recent episode (number six), but all the previous shows may be found at Hart’s website.

NOTE: After posting this, I noticed that a new episode has been posted. Guess what I’m watching right now?

“Oops” won the Experimental category in last year’s Vimeo Awards.  What it is is a bunch of home movies that end with the camera being dropped, all edited together.  I know how it sounds, but it’s actually awesome.

Trust me.

oops from Chris Beckman on Vimeo.

A bit more about this interesting film can be found at CreativeReview.

Amy, down at Dinsdale Park to take pictures of the flooding, nearly steps on a snake. And then takes pictures of the snake! I took care of the video.

Symmetry from Everynone on Vimeo.

This video perplexes me. Where are they, and WHY DO THEY HAVE A TIGER.

It’s hilarious that the dogs are hopping around, giving little bites, and the tiger just lazily swipes at them with its GIANT PAW.

And towards the end, there’s a “Beware of Cat” sign. Holy understatement, Batman.

(Via)

I have long known what a differential gear does — it keeps one wheel from slipping when you turn a corner — but I’d never really understood how.

This video finally clears that up for me. Fantastic!

(via BB)