Laughing Squid

An In-Depth Look at the Increasingly Popular Fascination With Fidget Spinners and Gadgets

by Lori Dorn at 1:32 PM on May 26, 2017

PBS Idea Channel host Mike Rugnetta examines the popularity of fidget spinners and gadgets, specifically defining the origins of the work, the growing fascination with constantly being occupied, the benefits these objects can bring to those with ADHD and autism and the ongoing question of whether they are a help or hindrance to the classroom.

The assumed purpose of the fidget spinner is to help people, particularly students, concentrate to give an outlet to excess energy caused by stress or anxiety, particularly that associated with ADHD and autism. …but many teachers have been saying actually tool-assisted fidgeting is not an aid to concentration, but a hindrance that they are a distraction

Inventor Colin Furze Turns a Microwave Oven Into a Video Game Console to Play While Cooking

by Justin Page at 1:09 PM on May 26, 2017

On the latest episode of Furze’s Invention Show, British inventor Colin Furze presented a microwave oven that he turned into a video game console to play while waiting for food to cook.

A post shared by colin furze (@realcolinfurze) on May 25, 2017 at 12:12pm PDT

Harvard Student Group Performs A Cappella Tribute to John Williams During Commencement Day

by Justin Page at 12:51 PM on May 26, 2017

The Harvard Din & Tonics, a student jazz a cappella group at Harvard University, honored legendary composer John Williams during commencement day by performing amazing a capella covers of his most beloved scores, including music from Star Wars, Jaws, and Indiana Jones.

The Fascinating Evolution of the Word ‘Gross’

by Lori Dorn at 12:39 PM on May 26, 2017

In a fascinating episode of their informative whiteboard series for Mental Floss, linguist Arika Okrent and illustrator Sean O’Neill verbally and visually explain the origins and evolution of the word “gross”, particularly noting that while its meaning has remained essentially the same, the context in which it is used has changed.

Gross did not undergo a big change in meaning, but it did undergo a big change in context. In the late 20th century, young people started to use it a lot–like, a lot-a lot. So much so that old people noticed it, and didn’t like it. Gross became slang. …By the ’80s it was a staple of valley girl speak, so often repeated, mocked, emulated, and imitated that it spread far beyond the teen world it came from. Its sense narrowed into a succinct judgment of visceral disgust.

A Confused Man Is Told ‘There’s No Time to Explain’ Before Traveling Back in Time to Kill Evil Aliens

by Justin Page at 12:22 PM on May 26, 2017

The filmmakers at Corridor Digital has created an intense video, based on the phrase “There’s No Time to Explain,” that features a confused man visited by a friend who needs him to quickly slap Gorski’s Quantum Cream on his face before jumping into a time machine. After fighting off a construction worker and traveling 10 minutes into the past, it is revealed to him that he must blow his past self up, along with his group of evil alien friends.

A post shared by Corridor Digital (@corridordigital) on May 12, 2017 at 12:28pm PDT

A Cringeworthy Compilation of 1990s Commercials

by Justin Page at 11:43 AM on May 26, 2017

TomoNews has created a compilation video of some of the most cringeworthy commercials that aired during the 1990s.

via Neatorama

Japanese Father Turns His Daughter’s Artwork Into an Adorable Bento Box

by Justin Page at 11:13 AM on May 26, 2017

Japanese comedian and father Takafumi Ozeki (a.k.a. “The Geese”) turned his daughter’s artwork into an adorable bento box for her to take to school.

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/C1bIl9n14n

— ??????? (@geeseojeck) May 24, 2017

images via Takafumi Ozeki

via Spoon & Tamago

Satan Sings Death Metal Tutorial on How to Use HTML

by Justin Page at 10:33 AM on May 26, 2017

The RiffShop‘s David Wu, founder and guitarist of the band Cyborg Octopus, got dressed up as Satan to sing a death metal tutorial on how to properly use HTML. David previously rocked a heavy metal tutorial on how to drive a stick shift.

via reddit