Awesome Weird

Bright Sun Films looks at one of the strangest abandoned places – a floating restaurant McDonald’s commissioned for the 1986 World’s Fair in Vancouver. After it closed, the Friendship 500 aka the “McBarge” sat forsaken for 28-years. But might it rise from the ashes?

(PG-13: Language) Sam O’Nella Academy shares the story of Elmer McCurdy. He was a bandit in the early 20th century who got killed in a shootout with the police. But he stayed above ground for an astounding 65 years, thanks to crooks and clueless entertainers.

A hypnotic video of a martini glass filled with some kind of black fluid that is both thick and viscous, and exhibits elastic properties as well. This unspillable gunk looks like the lifeblood of some sort of demonic creature.

These days, if you need a calculator, you simply use your smartphone. But there was a time when calculators were popular standalone problem solving tools. Techmoan checks out another retro oddity – a 1970s calculator crammed into a clunky writing instrument.

From pickle tubs to washing machines, there are lots of unusual ways to create percussive sounds. But this clip from Japan’s Open Reel Ensemble is definitely the first time we’ve seen someone using magnetic reel-to-reel tape as a drum kit. More here.

Switch things up for the holidays by displaying Treetopia’s Knocked Upside-down Christmas Tree. Not only does it look funny, it also takes up less floor space so you can fit it even in small rooms. It comes with 500 clear lights, a stand, a foot switch and extra bulbs and fuses.

Adult Swim and Vernon Chatman’s new stop-motion series is described as an “omnibus of painfully riotous emotional parables dripping from the deepest caverns of your unconscious.” And from what we saw in the first episode, they nailed the description. Premieres 12/9/18.

A man decides to make a big change in his life and buy a field filled with corn, but he finds himself distracted as he contemplates the impact his newfound purchase will have on the world. Cory and Brendan’s short film is the perfect blend of hilarious and weird.

Animator Chris Thomas spent the last 10 years painstakingly creating what he calls “The World’s First Stop-Frame Animated Western.” While we’re not sure of that claim, what we are sure of is that it’s a one of the most insane things we’ve watched in a long time.

A demonstration of a rather ridiculous traditional Moldavian folk music technique in which the lead musician uses a leaf as a sort of wind instrument that couldn’t help but remind us of the hilariously endless balloon scene in Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday.

“Performance architect” Alex Schweder and artist Ward Shelley’s unique tiny home is only meant for residents with an iron stomach. The entire home not only spins in the wind, but it see-saws as its occupants move back and forth. We’re assuming the furniture is all nailed down.

Packing notes of ginger, soy, and lemongrass, this long-burning candle is designed to conjure the aroma of Chinese food without waiting for the delivery driver to show up. As an added bonus, it has no MSG, so it shouldn’t put you to sleep or give you a headache.

Developed by engineers from Keio University, this wearable exosuit allows a remote operator to control its arm movements in order to provide guidance to its wearer. The instructor wears a VR headset so they can see the same thing as their student.

While its robotic “fingers” aren’t nearly as agile as Jake Shimabukuro’s, beginner ukulele players now have some robotic competition, thanks to this desktop machine that can play whatever tune you feed it. Listen as it plays the theme from The Godfather, and more.

Video artist, music and comedy producer Nick DenBoer’s wild and crazy CG animation work can be seen in TV shows, music videos, and commercials. His latest showreel is packed with so much insanity that we couldn’t resist sharing it as a standalone work of entertainment.

Adult Swim Games and Rekim present “the world’s least realistic pool simulator” – a ridiculous new spin of the classic table game, in which all of the pool balls are alive and capable of walking places. Available on Steam and the Nintendo Switch now.