Top 25 Videos of All-Time

My generation has produced a new phenomenon: watching videos online. YouTube is almost as much a part of our daily lives as Facebook and e-mail. I've wasted my fair share of time watching videos online, and I've collected my 25 favorites here. There is no criteria for making the list. If it was awesome, funny, stupid, or just plain interesting, it got consideration. I did try to avoid the globally known viral videos, though. So no “drinking out of cups,” no Charlie, and no double rainbows, for the sake of repetitiveness (apparently that's a word! Who knew?). And honestly, once you get to around number twelve, the order doesn't really matter either. As long as you're left in shock, inspired, or in stitches, I've accomplished my goal. Tell me what you think, and if I've made any glaring oversights!

I think most browsers will take you straight to the clip in this window, so make sure to click the "back" button afterward to get back to my countdown! Now, without further ado:

25. Soulja Boy: Girl U Stank (Take a Bath) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-xAFrL2FDU The reason this is on my list (and god forbid, starting my list), is not to drive people away. It is simply to point out how atrocious this song is. I could tell my dog to take a crap on a newspaper, and then make a song out of the words that it landed on and I guarantee it would be better than what Soulja Boy came up with here. New contest: who can make it the farthest through this clip without exiting out?

24. Carl's Jr. Commercial – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq25qD44hC0 I've always liked this commercial, since it came out when I was a kid. Such a simple concept, but so effective. It's a stupid joke you would make up with your friends at lunch, but to see your stupid idea displayed on TV gave it legitimacy. Okay, maybe that was just me.

23. Gunther music video: Ding Dong Song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbYtqAWDF2U An absolutely terrible, but hilarious song by Gunther. The close up on his face during the chorus kills me. It will leave you in shock. For more ridiculous Gunther videos, check out this other classic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eyGLtT4b3o

22. Spray Paint Artists - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMbCnumPr90 Another pretty long video, but really entrancing. There are tons of these videos on the internet, and each and every one is incredible. I can't fathom the art that these street vendors make using just spray paint, tin cans, newspapers and other small tools. I'm lucky enough to live close to San Francisco so that any given weekend, I could go to the Embarcadero and see one of these performances in person. I actually bought one last time I was in the city (only $5, none were more than $20) and it's hanging on my wall right now!

21. Boneless baby – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y66UgfLZGsg Creepy? Yes. Sad? Yep. In bad taste? Sure. But there's one thing you can't argue: this is freakishly funny. This one makes me laugh really hard.

20. This is SportsCenter: Manny being Manny –http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0LjnqtSPps This one might need some context. First of all, Manny Ramirez is hilarious. He's widely-hated for various reasons, but still, he's hilarious. This is a long-running SportsCenter ad campaign featuring different athletes, mascots and SportsCenter personalities claiming kooky behind-the-scenes look-ins at the ESPN offices. Anyway, “Manny being Manny” is a phrase coined to describe Ramirez for his crazy antics both on and off the field (for example, taking a break during a game to go pee inside the Green Monster). Hopefully that will make you readers realize why this commercial is so funny.

19. Top 10 soccer goals – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq5wdDJFi9Q Even non-soccer fans can appreciate these beautiful shots. For those of you, like me, who have played soccer, understand how difficult it is to put it in the back of the net. Making it look this good is why they are paid to play! I think #5 is my favorite, but #3 is definitely my favorite celebration.

18. Backflip catch on trampoline - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0rVZGL33Xg This is another video that may or may not be real. Because it looks real, I'm going to play dumb and just accept it as truth. That being said, this is amazing. Every guy dreams of making this play, but few have the balls to try it. Even fewer can actually pull it off! It may be lucky, but still takes a high degree of insanity and athleticism to make it count. I mean, come on! A backflip alone is hard enough! Also, let's take a minute to give the QB some props. That's a long, long pass, and it's right on the money.

17. College Humor: Half-court shot prank - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI7AUgp5fPI College Humor is another great viral group and this is the best prank I've seen on their website so far. How devastating. Sorry if you have to suffer through a YouTube ad before seeing it, but it's worth it! To explain, briefly, these two guys in the video are in a prank battle that has been raging for years. They put all of them online, which you can see at www.collegehumor.com.

16. Improv Everywhere: Grand Central Station - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwMj3PJDxuo This is so cool. Over 23 million views on YouTube makes me think you've seen this. But enjoy anyway. Improv Everywhere is a really cool group and I hope that I run into them sometime while I'm walking around town. Very creative.

15. Christian the Lion - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btuxO-C2IzE I'm pretty sure most people have seen this by now, but that doesn't make it any less awesome. Take a few minutes to watch it! I wish I had a pet lion.

14. “World's most insane knockout” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlLGWYvcnoE I don't know what kind of fighting this is, but the knockout is incredible. Raw athleticism. I'd love to see Brock Lesnar try this in the UFC (yeah, right). (And two honorable mentions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgfgLnFrvxs and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt4LrZO9z8k)

13. Gladiator quote – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvAbGbFYAuk&feature=related Crappy quality, annoying screen size, unnecessarily long clip...worth every second. This movie (especially this part) pumps me up beyond belief! Best line from one of the best movies I've ever seen. If you're impatient, fast-forward to about the 1:15 mark. And if you don't know what's going on, or you've been living in a hole for ten years and haven't seen Gladiator? Get on that immediately. You'll thank me.

12. Japanese baseball catch - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8a33v1EQ5c Man, if I ever made a catch this amazing, this athletic, this coordinated? I'd retire after the game, because there is no way I could top it. Coolest catch of all time, made by the aptly nicknamed “Spiderman” in a professional Japanese baseball game.

11. Cal St. Fullerton slam – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjqtJptW0Bk&feature=related One of the better dunks I've seen recently. Very clean. Tell me this wouldn't pump a team up! Solid defense on the other side of the court to lead to the dunk. And that poor guy on the other team's face probably smelled like Gerard Anderson's crotch for a couple days. (Also, see this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp6qJ7LZNlg and this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tq9mMZQCqg. Two of my other favorite dunks.)

10. “Em-bear-assed” on 1,000 ways to die - http://www.spike.com/video/em-bear-assed/3107893 For those of you not familiar with this show, it's on SPIKE and is basically just the craziest and most random ways that people have died. I know it's bad to laugh at people for dying, but this show makes it hard not to. The reason I chose this particular “way to die” is because the re-creation of the death and the SPIKE narrator's script is worthy of this list itself. Not to mention how the guy dies. Check it out. Oh, and apparently the "fornicating furries" he runs into? Real. Yikes.

9. Home video of Juno – http://www.facebook.com/video/?of=639957370#!/video/video.php?v=319582122370&subj=639957370 This is a video that probably only people who are friends with me on Facebook can actually see. But considering almost everyone who will read this is, it shouldn't be a problem. Tell me this isn't the cutest thing you've ever seen! If only she was still this small and innocent...

8. Shaq commercial - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo0ncg-2zPY It's widely-known that Shaquille O'Neal is both a dominant athlete and one of the funniest, most animated celebrities of our generation. This may not be his best video clip ever, but it's still one of my favorites.

7. 100 cheesiest movie quotes - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTiAS7cdsYc This one is about 10 minutes long, but it's worth it if you have the time. A collection of the cheesiest movie quotes ever, and they are really hilarious. The best ones are quotes where you didn't realize how cheesy the quote was when you saw the movie, but in the context of this countdown, it's like a hilarious revelation. (As a bonus, I don't know if this quote is on the countdown but it's really in a class of it's own. You don't have to see this movie to appreciate how bad the line is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5eVcXhHN9U)

6. Morgan State catch - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhN0OZA3aIs I don't know if this is a doctored video, but I don't care. The most athletic football play I think I've ever seen! The fact that Morgan St. wide receiver Edwin Baptiste was able to turn, dive, catch the ball one-handed at full extension, and hang on to the ball as he lands, is just unbelievable to me. You can really see on the slow-motion replay that he was literally horizontal to the ground, extended from the tip of his hand to his toes.

5. Mark Buehrle flip play - http://vimeo.com/10713200 Mark Buehrle, one of baseball's good guys, makes a play on Opening Day 2010 that can't even be described. It might have been luck, but damn, does he make lucky look good! Mercy!

4. WSU vs. ASU 2009 Senior night basketball game - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq42BbLfgDE This is at my school, Washington State University. It was the seniors' last home game, when fan-favorite point guard Taylor Rochestie downed Arizona State in overtime on this long three pointer. Great moment, and even greater that I'm one of those red-clad ZZU CRU psychos running on the floor afterward. And don't bash the music, because it makes it just that much more epic! Go Cougs!

3. Robot Chicken Gummy Bear - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0w5oGVwJ_Q Okay, I know that Cartoon Network and Adult Swim have pretty awful shows in general. But anyone who has seen Robot Chicken and claims it is not funny is a liar! My roommate and I saw this sketch on that show at three in the morning in the dorms a few years ago and it's still one of the funniest things either of us has ever seen. Who thinks of this crap?

2. Do you Believe in Miracles? - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTev5pSuYLk This is one of the most inspirational sports highlights of all time. I still get chills watching this, even though I'm hardly a hockey fan (not to mention I was -9 years old when this happened). The context of the 1980 Olympics and the unbelievable, emotional call by Al Michaels is absolutely unforgettable.

Before we get to #1, here's one I added in last minute. It's also extremely funny, but I didn't want to part with any of my other top 25. So...bonus!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfym8MdKNNY

Now, back to the countdown. The "winner" is...

1. SNL “Great Day” short – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48BdEecEON8 Saturday Night Live is a classic. Andy Samberg is absolutely hilarious. I don't even try to figure out where they come up with this stuff, but this is definitely the funniest one I've seen. The reason for it being #1? Recently discovered. It's just plain ridiculous. Enjoy! And thanks to my good friend Abbi Olson for showing this to me!

Hope you enjoyed all these clips! See ya next time, and follow me here at http://jamblin-man.blogspot.com/ if you liked it!

Intelligent Design: Should it be taught in public schools?

I wrote this for my English 301 (Rhetoric) class and presented it today. My partner presented the argument that Intelligent Design should not be taught in public schools under any circumstance. Honestly, we both rocked it. I got an A+ (only the + because I "won" the argument by a vote of the class 9 to 6, but we both did solid A work). I'm curious to see what people think about the issue...feel free to comment, question, tear apart, do whatever to this...I'll look forward to the feedback!


My argument is that teaching Intelligent Design, which is currently prohibited in public schools in America, absolutely should be taught, but outside of a science classroom setting. To explain quickly, the theory of Intelligent Design is basically an effort to discount the accepted scientific explanation that natural selection acting on random variations is the cause of creation. Instead, it proposes that creation is best explained by an intelligent cause, although it essentially avoids identifying a specific designer. Intelligent Design offers to close the gap between the notions of the Creationist viewpoint and the Evolutionary viewpoint. The middle ground kind of implies the thought that God may have created the universe and then let nature take it's course.

The separation of church and state, the teaching of religion and evolution, and all its surrounding controversy has made this discussion a point of contention among the public for over a century. On one hand, the First Amendment states that the government cannot limit freedom of speech or religion, including personal displays of either. On the other hand, the Establishment Clause in that amendment also states, the government can not force religious beliefs or establish a religion in public schools because they are owned by the government. So, students at public schools have the right to have their own beliefs and demonstrate their religions, but they can't learn about different theories of creation.

The most recent development in this debate was in the case Kitzmiller vs. Dover, PA in 2005. The case arose because t he local school board voted to require teachers to read a statement about Intelligent Design prior to discussions of evolution in high school biology classes to assure both viewpoints were established. Parents of eleven students challenged the decision, arguing that it violated the Establishment Clause. District Judge John E. Jones issued a decision that said, in summary: “Intelligent Design is not science. It is a religious theory that had no place in the science classroom.” He came to this conclusion because he found Intelligent Design violated the scientific method of experimentation and testability, and because it was “relying upon a supernatural explanation for a natural phenomenon.”

While Judge Jones did side with the Establishment Clause, he never mentioned that the idea of Intelligent Design should cease to be studied all together. Rather, he went by the Constitution and found that Intelligent Design in itself was not a scientific theory, but a religious theory, so it could not be taught in public schools, especially in a science classroom. But, comparative religion courses and even Bible study courses aren't prohibited in public schools. Knowledge of all different beliefs, theories, religions, etc. is important to a student for many reasons, and should be taught in classes outside of the science discipline. Surprisingly, polls have shown that most U.S. Citizens support the teaching of evolution in public schools, as well as the teaching of intelligent design and creationism as alternative theories.

Personally, I agree with the law, when it says Intelligent Design is not appropriate for a science class. Science does need to have testable hypotheses and experimental subject matter. That being said, Intelligent Design is still a theory of creation that can be studied, and needs to be understood. As I just mentioned, comparative religion classes can be taught in public schools as long as all religious texts are covered and one religion isn't promoted over the others. As long as a school studies the broad, general scope of religion and doesn't try to indoctrinate its students to a specific belief over any other, everything is kosher.

So, let's say in a class where society, theory, or comparative religion is the main subject, that a teacher pursues a unit on religion and creation. It is absolutely, 100% legal to teach Intelligent Design, to teach the ideas of religions, and so on. But, many religious groups feel that teaching views that contradict their own is offensive. Therefore, comparative religion courses have a rough go at staying in the course catalog.

In 2007, an incident involving a high school comparative religion class in Lake Stevens, Wash. made news because a Christian student and her parents publicly complained that the teacher was offending their religious beliefs. This came after the teacher, who is admittedly atheist, assigned the same critical thinking assignment to a Navajo creation theory and the story of Genesis. Basically, the student and her parents contended that he was challenging Christianity, when really he was simply trying to teach his students to look at both theories of creation objectively and from an outside perspective.

Banning the teaching of religious theories hinders a student's ability to have thorough knowledge of all options, therefore restricting “freedom” of religion. Assorted theories should be taught, and considered cultural and historical influences on the progression of humanity, but not advocated or instructed to be absolutely true or false. That would qualify under the First Amendment, and still give students a broader range of knowledge. As a field of study, the idea of a religious orientation being simply and only that - an orientation, will send many people who find their identity closely linked with their religious belief system, into a frenzy.

Obviously, as is the case in the Lake Stevens incident, many students have a prevailing religious belief by high school. But to make this work; to allow Intelligent Design to be taught, people need to set aside their own convictions and biases and embrace the study of comparative religion. The same people calling for Intelligent Design to be taught in science classes can not banish it from all courses simply because other theories would get equal time in the unit. Unfortunately, it seems that when people's belief systems are threatened, they protest anyone who dares suggest that there might be more to consider than what their religion says is right. Sometimes the protest is violent. Welcome to justification for war, slavery, and all kinds of horrific actions man has done to each other.

A thought process that considers the abolishment of religious study in public schools does not take into account that ignorance may hurt more than it helps. If the theory of Intelligent Design is to be understood by the general public, then we must allow it to be taught in a classroom. There is a certain context in which the subject must be taught, but if our young students are to get an objective chance to consider and learn about different perspectives, theories and religions, we need to allow the freedom for them to develop personal beliefs based on what they've learned. Every option needs to be laid out evenly in front of them, so they are free to ask questions, discern preferences and ultimately develop a belief system that is based on objective information and unbiased presentation.

Banning the teaching of any theory is unfair to students; our government's goal should not be so much about separating church and state in this situation. It should be to allow our students to learn everything they have the ability to learn and to broaden their perspective. It's not about whether or not it's okay to teach Intelligent Design and other religious theories; but rather should focus on what students are capable of learning.

I know that, as an atheist, I would have loved to take a class about the theories of creation and different models of religion in high school. That isn't to say that anything I would have learned would have changed my views, but I definitely find other ideas and theories interesting, even if just for the cultural aspect. But right now, the American government is denying high school students the chance they deserve to learn everything to their fullest abilities. They need to stop letting groups and organizations determine which subject matter is “right” or which book is or is not blasphemous. Not to mention, that the United States already has low standardized test scores, so limiting learning opportunities in any way contributes to the validity of those results.

Learning about religion is also to study how human beings acquire religious beliefs and what value they find in them. There are certain obvious aspects that appeal to people such as community, comfort, even coherency. But there are also darker issues. For example, being part of a community that repels others can potentially offer insulation wrapped in arrogance. It can also lead to disdain towards others, which can lead to the mindset that people outside of a certain group need “saving” for their own good. Which can then justify destruction, murder, rape, etc of those being “saved.” In this context, it is absolutely a viable, legitimate topic to be studied: how human beings react to religion.

Creating a curriculum that allows for the theory of religions to be learned would, in the right hands, offer a platform for discussion of how we come to be religious and how that both benefits and creates problems for human beings. Intelligent Design is a possibility in the world of creationst theories. It needs to be considered and understood. It does not need to be “the answer,” nor does it need to supersede any other religious beliefs. As we continue evolving as a race, who's to say that God might not be revealed in ways we can't even fathom? Who also can say that there may not be a God? Until either is proven, every possibility should be given a chance to be studied.

If the government denies students their freedom to learn about every and all possibilities, they are effectively denying them the choice that the First Amendment preaches. Sure, anyone can still choose to believe in anything, but the fact is that if information is only made readily available about certain government-selected theories then it is not only contradictory, but pushing students toward certain ideas.

While I support the First Amendment, the Establishment Clause, and the ruling in Kitzmiller v. Dover, I believe there is room for a change in the law, so that Intelligent Design is a part of public school curriculum. Ideally, science would be strictly experimental, and comparative religion would be an elective that covers Intelligent Design, Genesis, evolution, Native American creation theories, and everything in between. Not only does this invite freedom of religion by literally allowing people to choose their personal beliefs based on what they've learned about all available options, but it would quite possibly create more tolerance and understanding across religious groups. Students would graduate public school with more of a global viewpoint and be better prepared citizens to engage in society as a whole. As an elective course, only those who are interested in learning about all the different theories and religions would do so. Nothing would be forced nor required.

One may argue that allowing Intelligent Design to be taught in any scenario in public schools is a blatant violation of the First Amendment. One may also argue that doing so would force students to believe in what they are taught rather than have the freedom to choose their own religious paths. To counter, I must admit that yes, technically Intelligent Design in public schools would violate the First Amendment, but the violation would hardly cause harm; in fact, it would be pushing toward general improvement. It is in our country's best interest to allow young students the right to study the theories behind why we exist. Nothing has yet been proven, so prohibiting them from learning about every possibility is actually pushing them toward one accepted viewpoint, which almost perfectly contradicts the First Amendment; the Amendment that almost strictly controls unspoken social, political and cultural rules, the Amendment that has been responsible as the basis for war and violence, the incongruous Amendment that is setting back generations of young Americans.

What's more important than right or wrong is the actual debate. Not about which group owns the truth, but about what religion means to us and why it is so important. About how it shapes who we are as individuals and members of the global community. And ultimately, how we can hold the same elements within different religions and then say “but our way is the right way.” Public schools should offer the questions of religions in a way that lets me and my Buddhist neighbor examine the respective theories, concepts, and history of our religions so that we can learn from each other and evolve with each other both spiritually and practically. Banning Intelligent Design from public schools gives students no such chance.

In conclusion, the debate will continue to rage on. To teach Intelligent Design or not to teach Intelligent Design? The answer is Intelligent Design must be taught. Religious theories must be taught. Creationist theories must be taught. Meet in the middle and allow these things to be taught in a comparative religion elective course. Keep it out of the science classroom and base it strictly on the study of different cultures. Everyone involved in the debate must be willing to open up and understand that we are tweaking the Constitution to improve the education of our young students, build tolerance and acceptance for different beliefs, and increase the general public's breadth of knowledge. Not allowing each and every theory to be evenly and fairly presented in an educational context would contradict everything the First Amendment stands for: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of choice. There is no free will, there is no free choice without the full disclosure of the belief systems represented around the world.