Ataque de Pánico! (Panic Attack!)

A well-done independent short film directed and animated by Fede Alvarez about giant robots destroying Montevideo, Uruguay.

New disaster flick?

Randall Munroe has it about right.

Bus ride through hell

Video from a harrowing bus ride through hellish scenes of a forest fire in Australia.

Train vs. tornado

Guess who won.  Be sure and watch to the end.

Trashy neighborhood

The path of refuse below is not a rubbish-strewn road, but rather a floating mess that has choked a creek in an impoverished section of Manila, Philippines.  See more trashy pics at Deputy Dog.

[Via TYWKIWDBI]

NYC 747 panic

Most folks have heard by now of the 747 from the Air Force One fleet that flew low over NYC this week for a staged photo op with an F-16.  Not very smart.  This was the reaction on the ground from some New Yorkers.  Skittish or justified?  You decide.

[From YouTube user davchip, Via Woosk]

An awful mess in Detroit

Photos of abandoned public schools rotting in Detroit are a stark reminder of that city’s systemic decline.

Photo: James Griffioen

[Via Andrew Sullivan]

Saying bye to Bush

The Economist delivers the best farewell in a balanced critique of 43’s presidency.

The fruit of all this can be seen in the three most notable characteristics of the Bush presidency: partisanship, politicisation and incompetence. Mr Bush was the most partisan president in living memory. He was content to be president of half the country—a leader who fused his roles of head of state and leader of his party. He devoted his presidency to feeding the Republican coalition that elected him.

Hint: never travel with this couple

Or at least check their itinerary before you travel.  The “world’s unluckiest tourists” were on vacation in Mumbai during the terrorist siege, as well as in New York on 9/11 and London when the tube bombings occurred.

[Via Arbroath]

Xmas tree fire

This is an oldie, but it bears repeating.  Dry trees indoors are a serious fire hazard.  Everyone have a safe holiday!