Mental Floss

Greg Veis, YouTube Hunter: 4 Moments in Human Awesomeness

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Today, it's gloomy in New York. It's been like this for days now, some queer stretch of the August blues, and there's not much to say about it other than it's only slightly worse than the human clambake that typically occurs on the streets this time of year. Days like these, staring out the window into the gray menace, one feels an acute desire for transcendence, for a reminder of what man is capable of at his best, when he's not busy diddling his fiddle or drinking himself dumb. So I bring to you four individual acts of genius.

First stop: JUGGLING! That's right, my panda bears! Juggling! Chickity-check this out:

Nuts, right? How does he do it?! Dance and juggle and occasionally lip-sync, all at once? That's it, I'm pre-booking him for my unborn children's Bar Mitzvahs.

Now, this one I'm not so sure about. It's a Nike ad starring Brazilian soccer star (and world-class smiler) Ronaldhino. Watch it and let me know what you think: is it a hoax, sort of like LeBron James' Powerade commercial where he makes all those shots from the opposite side of the court, or are his feet really possessed of laser-like precision? I'm feeling charitable today, so I'm going with the latter, but tell me if I'm being snowed. It's happened before.

I find this one below particularly impressive because this kid is neither a superstar or a demigod, like the two above. (Yes, the juggler is a demigod. Watch it again and try to disagree with me. Try.) This kid is just a dork, like you and me, but mostly you -- and he pulls off an extraordinary trick. Is it all by sense of touch? Can he see through his blindfold? Again, I'm left with more questions than answers.

And no list of human greatness would be complete without... a young Geraldo Rivera, baked out of his gourd. Note the 'stache.

Anyway, sorry to disappoint, but I'm going to be on a different continent next week and will be unable to post. I'm pretty sure there'll be a substitute poster, so be sure to show him the same respect you do me. I'll see you in two weeks. I love you.