Awesome Etc

Musician, composer and instrument maker Linsey Pollak introduces us to some strange but awesome sounding instrumentation and music in this clip from his show Passing Wind. (Thanks, Don!)

Director Guillaume Blanchet’s ode to biking and to bikers, especially his dad. A highly enjoyable visual metaphor about passion and dedication. But don’t try this at home. Or on the road.

Sure, this record was set all the way back in 1996 (and the video quality looks like its from 1986), but we’re still impressed with Sam Tartamella’s epic 2,255 foot-long skateboarding handstand.

Ayumu the chimp proves that in some ways, the apes have capacities which exceed most of us – as he memorizes complex numeric patterns faster and more accurately than your average child genius.

“You awake to find yourself in a dark room…” Sounds like the beginning of a horror story, but this adventure’s equal parts hilarious, frustrating and addictive. Be sure to leave annotations on.

Watch in awe as Daniel Sandoval spins his bike into the “world’s first” 720-degree double tailwhip at FISE Costa Rica. Thought it looks to us like this guy might have beaten this feat a couple of years back.

One thing is certain – the internet loves cats. There’s even a meme about a very long cat. This is not that cat. This kitty just has a really long tongue, and an amazing amount of tolerance for its owner.

Show the world you don’t give a damn by winning one of three flying, obscenity-filled R/C helicopters, courtesy of our friends over at Gadgets and Gear. Click the link to enter the contest.

A fan film about the first soldier to wear the MJOLNIR armor. Between this and Helljumper, Halo fans will be spoiled this year. Meanwhile, we’re still waiting for more of the Voltron fan film.

While anyone can play tiny drums with a mobile app these days, there’s something that just seems inherently more impressive about a person who can play tiny physical drums with mini drumsticks.

People get wasted, Spock uses Trekipedia and the Enterprise crew take a trip in the final episode of Black Moon Studio’s hilarious (mostly) silent series. This is art, we tell you, art!

The Woodland Zoo’s Lil’ Bear – the grizzly bear – and Tala – the wolf – are lifelong friends. Note the cautious dog. Perhaps it knows that they’ll be vastly different when they grow up.

(NSFW: Language) Holly Laurent of improv group The Second City apes Lana Del Rey and her song Video Games as she talks about the characters of Hunger Games. Rhyming skills ftw.

Can’t think of what to get your loved one for Valentine’s Day? Why not serenade them with a few tunes, like Fredde Gredde in this medley of 21 syrupy songs. Better than a box of chocolates.

A driver drives down the highway in Russia, when suddenly, the sky lights up with an incredible power plant explosion, all the while John Lennon provides the perfect soundtrack.

Watch as Shaolin Monk Si Xingsong demonstrates mental and physical strength, balance, and brass balls as he puts his entire body weight on his index fingers – without snapping them in half.

Little Jamie works on his swing. Not only does he sit still and behave – an accomplishment in itself – he has better hand-eye coordination than we do. Especially when he realizes he can hit his old man.

A short film by Digital Miso about a man who has synesthesia, a neurological condition wherein a stimuli activates multiple senses. In this man’s case, sounds cause him to see colored blocks.

Corridor Digital cuts back on the special effects in favor of man’s best friend for their latest short film. It will take you through a roller coaster of emotions and expectations.

Sophie Blackall paints images of loves lost and found. Her art can be found in New York’s subway trains, in her book Missed Connections inspired by Craigslist, or in poster form on Etsy.

Sit back, put on your headphones, and let your eyes and ears drink in this ethereal animated music video by WINTR for Swedish alt-pop artists Niki & The Dove. Get the track here for free.

We can’t prove it, but we called it: the viral cover of Somebody That I Used to Know finally gets a parody. The Key of Awesome pokes fun at the right parts, i.e. the guy who makes the clinky noise.

If you’ve still got a few Angry Birds levels you could never complete, watch this and you’ll wish that Chuck Norris really was a playable character in the game. Think Mighty Eagle, but with facial hair.