Murderball

If you've never seen Murderball, do.

It's the USA Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby squad's drive for gold at the 2004 Paralympic games.   More than that, it's an excellent example about how to make a movie about disability and focus on the subjects as individuals and their disabilities as part of their experience rather than what defines them.

These young men are athletes first and para/quadriplegics second (or third/forth/fifth...).  This film provides excellent insight into their experience and the impact of their injury on their lives without the "inspirational" light usually reserved for movies about individuals with disabilities.  It also touches on the issues of responsibility, friendship, and sexuality, and then with the coyness a rugby player can provide. 

You'll find the entire film embedded below (caution for language and adult topics) or it can be purchased via Amazon.com .

Scale of the Universe 2: Awesome Interactive Application

This is video of an amazing interactive Flash application which shows the scale of the universe from NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day.   Ranging from the smallest particles to the entire universe, zooming through this app you can see the scale of blue whale relative to a 747, and the state of Rhode Island.  Clicking on an item gives you additional (occasionally cheeky) information.

"Pluto used to be a planet, but now it's not. Why do people feel sympathy for it? It has no feelings. And if it did, why would it care about what the people way over on Earth though about it? On another note, Pluto's official name is now "134340 Pluto" because it is a dwarf planet."

I've embedded a short version that zooms through the breadth of the application in less than a minute, while the bottom video is nearly 5 minutes and goes slower to show the different items in the application as well as clicking on the occasional item.  

Four Great Short Videos from Danny Cooke

I love short documentaries but often don't watch them to the end.  Filmmaker Danny Cooke is an exception, consistently pulling me along with his sharp, concise documentaries, which are snapshots of interesting people.  While their lives aren't extraordinary, they're unique, and to most of us, foreign.  These beautifully shot films offering a glimpse into their lives. 

OurGlass of Cockington Ray: A Life Underwater 
David Smith- Sign Artist
Upside Dow, Left to Right: A Letterpress Film