In 1984, the Stasi — East Germany's notorious secret police — searched the flat of an auditor to determine if he'd leaked files that put the country in a bad light to Stern, a West German magazine, published in Hamburg. They recorded the clandestine search for posterity, and used it as the basis for a training video explaining to other secret police operatives how to search a dissident's home without alerting them that they were under suspicion. (via Grugq)
How to covertly toss an apartment, Stasi style
This YouTube video just hit one billion views
Yesterday, a video on YouTube hit one billion views twelve years after it was posted. Watch the rather shocking news report above. And here's a link to the official upload of the video that hit one billion. To understand the clip's unique history, start with this oral history published last year in MEL Magazine. It… READ THE REST
Please enjoy "Goodnight Moon," the vintage filmstrip
From the 1940s until the low-cost videocassette boom of the 1980s, audio filmstrips were commonly used in classrooms as an alternative to 16mm film projectors that were more expensive and fiddly to keep working. Uncommon Ephemera does the yeoman's work of saving these vintage filmstrips from the dustbin of dead media history and digitally archiving… READ THE REST
What are these strange videos of quick-cut random images accompanied by chaotic beeping noises?
About 6 years ago, someone, or some thing, posted a slew of videos to YouTube of strange images quick-cut together with a backing track of chaotic electronic beeps. There are hundreds of them and each is 11 seconds long. The channel is called dailybleep. While there are other projects online with that name, I'm not… READ THE REST
Save 20% this Cyber Week on a holiday-themed Advent calendar full of goodies
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. The holiday season is upon us, which means it's that time of year to indulge in the things that make us happy while we're surrounded by loved ones. Of course, indulging… READ THE REST
Boost your productivity with 40% in Cyber Week savings on over 200 Mac apps
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Back in school, mastering subjects like calculus and French was of utmost importance. But as you go about life, adulting your way through your complex personal issues and your chosen profession,… READ THE REST
This Cyber Week, make using your tablet easier than ever with 20% off this stylus pen
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. By now, we all know how useful iPads and digital tablets are. Their functionality and versatility make them a handy tool whether we're utilizing them for personal or professional use. Even… READ THE REST
