This YouTube mashup of the trailer for “Inception” and scenes from Pixar’s “UP” embodies everything that is right with the Internet.

YouTube Link [via Gizmodo]

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The original Double Rainbow Guy was not able to travel to Patagonia to view the total solar eclipse on July 11, 2010. However, it appears that some of his friends made the trip and lent their incredibly enthusiastic commentary to the event on his behalf. We hear it was “Ohhhhaha, so KILLER!” and “My battery died, but whatever!”

To be honest, a total solar eclipse viewed from the Andes Mountains would have elicited the same flabbergasted reaction from most people. I personally fear I would have ripped off all my clothes and rolled around in the snow as I succumb to astronomical euphoria. But that’s just me.

Raw Video – TSE in Patagonia 11 July 2010 [Vimeo] (via @neiltyson)

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If you watch enough movies and TV, you’ve probably watched many scenes where an actor is reading a newspaper over his morning cup of joe. What you may not have noticed is that they are rarely reading a real newspaper. Instead, the blog slashfilm.com has noticed that many of them have been reading the exact same newspaper since the 80s!

The story behind the prop is still unknown, but it was probably made long ago for filmmakers to avoid copyright issues from using real newspapers. However, the whole situation comes full circle when comparing shots of actor Ed O’Neill reading the newspaper over two decades ago, portraying Al Bundy in Married… with Children, and more recently, as Jay Pritchett in ABC’s Modern Family.

Check out the SlashFilm post for a full collage of images of the newspaper in everything from the film No Country For Old Men to the TV comedy Scrubs.

LOL: The Reoccurring Prop Newspaper [slashfilm.com]

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Mark Frauenfelder of BoingBoing says:

Nothing I can say here will make this any better.

Agreed.

YouTube Link [via BoingBoing]

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Step 1: Undeniably cute, funny and accidental source material. Enter Melissa Brandts’ photo, featured in National Geographic’s Photo of the Day:

My husband and I were exploring Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park-Canada when we stopped for a timed picture of the two of us. We had our camera set up on some rocks and were getting ready to take the picture when this curious little ground squirrel appeared, became intriqued with the sound of the focusing camera and popped right into our shot! A once in a lifetime moment!

Step 2: Get posted on BoingBoing.net. Check.

Step 3: Unleash the throngs of immature amateur Photoshoppers across the internet to cut out the newly dubbed “Crasher Squirrel” and paste him into the foreground of many, many other photographs with sometimes hilarious results. Check. Check. Check.

Step 4: Get it out of your system by creating your own:

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

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You may remember last month that Stephen Colbert directed his Colbert Nation minions to take over the NASA vote to name the next International Space Station module after himself. He did, in fact, win the vote when COLBERT climbed the ranks to gain 230,539 votes, even more than the NASA supplied 2nd place name of Serenity.

On tonight’s Colbert Report on Comedy Central, NASA officially announced that the node would not be named Colbert. Instead, Node 3 will be known as Tranquility, to honor the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing. Colbert didn’t leave empty handed, however, as NASA also announced that they will install a treadmill inside the Tranquility module which has been scientifically named the “Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill” or C.O.L.B.E.R.T.

On his show, Colbert graciously accepted the consolation prize, proudly confirming to himself that NASA followed his command.

NEW SPACE STATION MODULE NAME HONORS APOLLO 11 ANNIVERSARY [nasa.gov]

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Seems that news got around about NASA letting the public vote on the name of the next module to be added to the International Space Station, and on the March 3rd episode of the Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert took it upon himself to implore his viewers to add his name as a write-in. Within 24 hours of the episode airing, “COLBERT” is now the #1 user suggested name for the Node 3 module, easily overtaking “XENU,” the believed vengeful galactic dictator taught by the Church of Scientology. The leading name from NASA’s provided choices is currently “SERENITY” with 86% of votes.

Even if COLBERT receives the most votes it is highly unlikely NASA will officially name Node 3 after him. The terms and conditions listed on the voting webpage indicate that “the results are not binding on NASA and NASA reserves the right to ultimately select a name in accordance with the best interests of the agency, its needs, and other considerations.”

This wouldn’t be the first time Colbert implored his influence on the internet. In August 2006 he commanded his viewers, affectionately known as the Colbert Nation, to edit the Wikipedia page for Elephant to update it with the “fact” that the wild elephant population had swelled and was no longer on the endangered species list. The ploy worked as thousands flocked to the page to update it, leading to the entry being locked for editing to prevent further vandalism.

In the end, Colbert, who frequently references his enthusiasm of space exploration, may not get the ISS node named after him. Instead, I suggest that we take Node 3’s copula, the protruding observation deck attached to it’s exterior, and name it the Colbert Bump.

The Colbert Report, Help NASA Name Node 3 

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Practically everyone with basic cable knows Mike Rowe, host of Discovery Channel’s hit show Dirty Jobs. What you may not know is that early in his career in the 1990s, in addition to singing with the Baltimore Opera, he was a late-night host on the QVC shopping network. While peddling various nick-nacks and cheap jewelry, he still managed to present himself with the same humorous, sometimes naughty, dry wit that makes him probably the most entertaining host on TV today.

Of his time at QVC, Mike said, “I basically turned the whole thing into my own stupid David Letterman show – I made fun of the callers and made fun of the products.” Below are some of our favorite Mike Rowe QVC moments taken from the dozens of clips to be found on YouTube. Get ready to get dirty!

Mike Rowe on QVC – Precious Moments:

Mike Rowe on QVC – Katsak Cat Toy:

Mike Rowe on QVC – Noah’s Ark

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The cast of the original commercial turned pop-culture phenomenon, which had everyone yelling “Wassuuup!” until we all hated each other for it, have returned 8 years later with a new video. The new “Wassup 2008″ version illustrates just how much things have changed since 1999.

Suddenly I don’t hate “Wassup!” so much anymore.

YouTube Link [via BoingBoing]

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Steps to creating a new Internet Meme:

1. Find a cheesy ’80s music video that everyone is familiar with [CHECK]
2. Overdub cheesy ’80s video with your own soundtrack which explains, in song, what is literally happening in the video [CHECK]
3. Post video to YouTube [CHECK]
4. Get link posted on BoingBoing [CHECK]
5. Repeat

Take On Me: Literal Video Version [YouTube via BoingBoing]

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