"We left the boxes in the village. Closed. Taped shut. No instruction, no human being. I thought, the kids will play with the boxes! Within four minutes, one kid not only opened the box, but found the on/off switch. He'd never seen an on/off switch. He powered it up. Within five days, they were using 47 apps per child per day. Within two weeks, they were singing ABC songs [in English] in the village. And within five months, they had hacked Android. Some idiot in our organization or in the Media Lab had disabled the camera! And they figured out it had a camera, and they hacked Android."

Via +Sandy Sandmeyer and +Jeremy Seifert 

Awesome.  In the original sense.

Stolen from +David Blunt.

Totally worthy.

Artists are rarely understood by the masses.

One of the most brilliant things ever.
(actually stolen from FB)

I stole this from someone on [REDACTED] and altered it slightly.

Via +David Blunt on [REDACTED].

Serious laughter over here.

#Truth  

Via +Melanie Reed and +Imgur.

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Via +Lisa Josephsdatter.

Gotta admit.  This one got me.  I lolled hard.

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Via +Sheppe Pharis.

Boston Terriers are the best for all the wrong reasons.

First read this: http://goo.gl/tCh9A and http://goo.gl/ifwBt

Then read the below.

Okay, +Jeremy Seifert.  This is my response.

I don't always post GIFs.

But when I do, they're of Randy Johnson annihilating a bird with a fastball.

WOW!  FREE?

The personal hurdles I had to overcome to post this...

Via +Melanie Reed.

For +Jennifer Hodges and Toric.

Forgive the title.  :(

Yup.

This is why you get a portable basket. #discgolf.

I can't believe this! A full 90% of people can't name the opposites of these simple words. Can you do it?

1. Always
2. Coming
3. From
4. Take
5. Me
6. Down

Yea verily.

I wonder if this was a DOT or AOE.

Too soon?

This is why this show is so good.  They get me.

Via +Steph Kirby.

This is the only video I will post of the Harlem Shake nonsense.

Ouch.  Hehe.

#communities  

This is actually worth participating in #caturday  today.
Via +Brad Boydston.

Pretty good.

Paging Michael Crichton.

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Real giggle.  Very funny.

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NICE! #humpday

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BANGS HEAD

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The future.  Now.

After last year when this was brought to my attention, it's tradition.

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Via +Katy Bootle

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Like A Boss!

Well, when you say it like that.

It's good to know that there are people in the world who understand me.

Thanks to +Nathanael May for this brilliance.

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100% LOL

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Bwahahahaha!

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#Truth  

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What could you not go 24 hours without?

Most people who know me understand that without coffee - avoid me at all costs!

Stolen from [REDACTED] because lulz.

I know a few of my great circlers here on
+Google+ are big into third-party politics, and so I encourage all of you to please consider circling this page.

This is the brainchild of +Shon Sands who felt that the two-party system sold him a bill of goods and got tired of hearing that a vote in line with his conscience was a wasted vote.

Not he uses his (little) free time to spread information about candidates that are outside of the closed system of the Washington insiders, bought and sold to special interest and lobbying groups.  Let's welcome him here and get +NoVoteWasted into the public consciousness.

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Priceless.  Via +Ryan Ostendorf.

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LOL!

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MUUUUUAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAAHHAHA!!!

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Introducing the Facebook "dislike" button

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Worth a re-share.

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But let nobody fool you. It is not painless for the child, and anyone who says otherwise is a liar. Abortion is not an excision of a featureless bunch of cells; it is infanticide. We have revived the practice of child sacrifice to the new deities of casual sex and convenience. We rationalize the reality of murder by altering our perspective of the nascent life through euphemisms like "fetus" or descriptions of "a clump of cells"...just like the Nazis convinced themselves that the people screaming as they were shot or gassed were "Untermenchen," subhuman, and therefore guiltlessly exterminated.
No comment is appropriate.

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Nailed it.

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This GIF perfectly sums up every Mumford & Sons song

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Public Service Trolling.

Via +Meirav M.

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I think, most of people need this recommendation ;-DD..... 

#fridayfunposts  

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Via +Matthew Strain.

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"They mostly come at night...mostly."

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Teacher = 1; Whiny student = 0

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Research Paper Feedback *

H/T +James McGrath 

* OK, it's not "research paper feedback", it is "a reply to a student who has questioned the grade awarded on a terrible research paper", but such a headline is a bit unwieldy.

Shockingly SFW.  Oddly hilarious.

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Thanks to +Russell Holly for alerting me to this.

Also, thanks to +Matthew Inman for making comics that are funny and tame enough to share.  I've often wanted to share some of the Oatmeal's brilliance, but not the choice of vernacular.  I tip my hat to you, sir.

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New comic http://theoatmeal.com/comics/mantis_shrimp

<Insert Wilhelm Scream>

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Excellent.

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Make sure you save this for the next time you get turned down for a job :) 

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Via +Kat Meredith.

I need demon bunnies now.

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It was supposed to be easy...

#funny   #bakery   via imgur

Posted on [REDACTED].  Made me giggle.

Alright, +Caleb McCallister, I'll see your Steam Pug and raise you a Pug Factory.

I know this is going to be me one day.

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A rare worthy animated gif.  Mark the date and time.

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Also, morning.

Thanks to +Melanie Reed for this inspiration.

#Truth  

So... let me get this straight.  +Google released "Search Plus Your World" to an unprecedented amount of FUD, but Facebook releases a search to see what all your friends posted and like, and it's rainbows and unicorns?

Sometimes a random tumblr post is pretty funny.

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100% LOL

Via +Simon Cousins.

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I love it, I'm going to memorize this one and use it every time people are in my offices talking about their Iowa and ISU:

Testing.

+Glen Campbell shared this a while back, and now +Scotty Brown needs to watch it.

You can thank me later.

This is being shared all over and I saw it via +Geof Fantastico.

Dude.

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SO. INCREDIBLY. WRONG.

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Crying from laughing so hard.

::gasp, wheeze::

[Via +Chess Griffin]

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Well played, internet.  Via +Scotty Brown.

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Check out the new iPhone!

So awesome. No seriously- you need to see this.

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I'm crying laughing here.

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Got a call from the credit union offering me 30 days of life insurance at no charge. Apparently I am allowed to try it and if I am not completely satisfied I am under no obligation.
Me (being a troll): So how much does it cost after 30 days
her: Depending on age and Health the policies start at 30 dollars a month and cap out at 45
me (still trolling): So worst case scenario 45 bucks a month and you guarantee that I don't die for the next 30 days.
her: Yes sir
me (super troll mode activated): so basically 45 dollars a month and you guarantee me immortality. Does it cap out at like 100 years, because obviously it'll take a lot more to keep me alive?
her: wait what...(long pause as she thinks about what I asked) No sir we pay you money if you die life insurance.
Me (dialing down the troll to keep her on the line): oh I thought you said life assurance.
her: no sir no sir (laughing at me) I said life insurance.
Me: so you'll pay me if I die, how much?
her: 250,000.00
me: ooh that's nice I could do a lot with that
her: yes sir...yes sir you could
me: but what will I spend it on if I'm dead
her: (long pause) well we would pay your wife Lauren Franks (10 years and they still have not changed her name.)
me (knowing I don't have long before this unravels I can ask why would you pay her she didn't die?... or take the road less traveled switch up the conversation and see if I can get her to hang on) (Ninja troll activated): I don't know that seems like a big commitment.
her: No sir, no commitment for 30 days.
me (can't resist activating mega troll): Maybe not for you but I'd have to die to test it. How else I am going to be sure it works and tell you how satisfied I am?
her: (silence this question actually has her thinking.  I hear her turning pages in her script looking for answers)
me: So what do the revival policies cost?
her: (sounding momentarily grateful for the change of direction) Revival Policies sir?
me: Yes, so that I can continue without consequence after testing your policy.
her: I don't know sir...(really really really long pause) actually I'm not familiar with that and that's the kind of question my manager should answer.
me: Okay...I'll wait
Manager Greg (can barely contain his laughter, he's obviously been listening to this call): Hello Mr. Bollman
me: yes sir
Manager Greg: I just want to say well played sir.  I wish I could high five you over the phone. You had everyone on the training call cracking up.
me (instantly liking Greg): I do what I can.
Manager Greg:  This is an offer from the credit union would you be interested in such a policy.
Me: I might. If you send me the details I'll look them over.
Manager Greg: Will do sir you have blessed day.
Call ends.

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This is the best thing you will read today.  I am not exaggerating.

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http://peapillybean.com.au/2012/07/26/the-lessons-doctor-who-is-teaching-my-asd-kid/

#doctorwho #aspergersyndrome #autism 

Is there a reward?

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I'm actually going to do this. Baaaaa.

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I wonder how many people we could get to do this? Most of my Facebook friends still don't know about Google+.

Please share this if you are participating.

Whoa!

Discraft Disc Golf Clinic: Distance with Dion

Why does this make me laugh so?

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HA!

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How can they be 2 different people if they are the same guy? HAHA!

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Faceoff of the millennium.

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No One Shall Pass Any Which Way

Now HERE is a geeky post  Do you get it? :)

#geekhumor   #youshallnotpass   #LOTR   #montypythonandtheholygrail  

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WHAT. THE. WHAT.

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That's not how to clean your windshield

A flyer has made its way online that claims kids' imaginations have reached the point where they are "dangerously overactive causing injuries." The directors of the school feel this problem stems from kids re-enacting things from their favorite shows and movies, but make a point of specifying, "Wrestling, super hero play, and Monster games."

Obviously, someone is unclear on the concept of children.  Or imagination.  Or fun.

Via +Josh Haley.

Kids these days.

0_o

We heard you like scrollbars...

They change +Google+ and a buncha people turn into this dude.

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Yeah. I'm there.

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So excited for this!

File under: Trolling

http://www.businessinsider.com/google-plus-is-a-desolated-wasteland-2013-5

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Dude.  So cold.

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5/5 Bretty good :DDDD

From the comments: RIGHT IN THE CHILDHOOD.

You need some Friday smiles.

They must know something.

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S R I R A C H A

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"But his goal wasn’t to make a billion dollars. He wasn’t driven by quick riches. He was driven by wanting to provide a great product." 

This is for +Jack Hardman.

Yup.

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This is reality.

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Now you're on Sarachman time ;)

I'm sure you've seen this by now.  But it's great.  Heartless parenting at its best.  +Ryan Ostendorf should do one completely of kids making lemon-faces.

There is much truth here.

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Make him stop.

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+Jonathan Hardesty posted this on [REDACTED] and I saw it on +Abraham Williams' feed.  I couldn't not post it any longer, especially for +Lisa Josephsdatter.

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I'm not sure how I feel about the color of Wonder Woman's pants, but otherwise, I love these. It's a really nice take on making our favorite Superheroines less objectified.

Brilliant.

And if you think that respect ends with just not raping women, then we need to have another talk.

I really dig this.

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Wow.  Just, wow.

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This is the most awesome GIF I've ever seen.

While "playing around," these folks figured a way to gather a census of the internet and map it in several interesting ways.  To me, the most interesting is this animation showing internet usage from day to night. I use the word "awesome" because the amount of data and computing power involved is harder to comprehend than the size of our national debt.

Those interested in the technical details can read their paper, and those like me who just want to see a mind-boggling amount of data make a lot of pretty colors on a map can download the high-res visualizations at http://internetcensus2012.bitbucket.org/

via +Nathan Yau 

This came across my path today.  I approve.