New Year's Eve Traditions

Yes, I know I've been video-heavy this week. In part that's because I'm still getting my act together after the holidays. There's been a lot going on here, visiting and running around and cleaning and installing and repairing things and...lots of stuff. Mostly good stuff (well, except for those things that needed repairing, like a door handle that gave in to metal fatigue after faithfully admitting people to the house for decades). I do promise to move on to things other than "all videos all the time" very soon (the best books of the year lists, for one), but for today...more videos!

It been a long time since I've featured anything by a perpetual favorite of mine, John Green. So...with that in mind, here's his most recent Mental Floss with 38 Bizarre Items Dropped on New Year's Eve.

And since we're talking New Year's Eve drops, here are 50,000 balloons falling 30+ stories in '08/'09, just because that's kind of awesome.

I hope your days after Christmas has been restful (with no broken door handles). See you tomorrow!

Myrna

C.G.P. Grey Explains How to Become the British Monarch

Just in case you thought you might like to apply for the position.

Why We Drive on Whatever Side of the Road We Drive On

Or at least here are some possible reasons as to how our common (but sometimes differing) practices evolved. My question is, how far do people carry this? For example, we drive on the right, so I tend to walk on the right side of the sidewalk and push my grocery cart down the right side of the aisle. I'm always a little off-kilter when I'm walking a shared bicycle/pedestrian path and walkers are directed to walk on the left side, even though I understand the rationale (narrow path, bicycles move much faster than walkers, and walkers can see the cyclists coming). But not all paths suggest that solution, so most of us walk on the right, and cyclists get used to calling out, "On your left," as they pass us, so that we'll know not to step over into their path and risk a collision.

Fun (Yes, I Said Fun!) Geography Lesson For Today

C.G.P. Gray teaches us about countries inside countries.

I Love These Facts About Mr. Rogers!

Yes, I know that I've already posted one video about Mr. Rogers this week, and only last week I posted a John Green Mental Floss video, but this one (which combines both of those) was just too much fun to pass up. I learned some new facts about Mr. Rogers, and that's always fun. (This is the John Green who is the author of The Fault in Our Stars, the book I was discussing the other day).

John Green Clears Up 50 Common Misconceptions

The teacher in me loves this:

It's the Season for Giving, But...

Maybe it would be better to spread some of our giving to other parts of the year. In this video, Can Money Buy Happiness? by Asap Science, the concept of what we do with our money and how that affects our sense of well being is explored.

A Short Break from Holiday Posts

Because C.G.P. Grey has posted a video titled Holland vs. the Netherlands. As always his videos are fascinating. I always feel much smarter after I watch one of them.

What It Was Like To Be a Teenager in Ancient Rome

Another animated lesson from TEDEd. Fascinating stuff.

The City of London (Part 1)

Another awesome video by C.G.P. Grey

Who Uses Typewriters Anymore?

C.G.P. Grey, one of my favorite YouTubers, included this video on the typewriter in his list of favorites. I have to agree. A fun look at a machine that revolutionized the world but is now almost gone.

Where the Spelling of "Ye Olde" Comes From

A Minute Physics video clearing up the confusion.