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Occasionally — not occasionally enough, according to my kids — I visit a website that features raw, unedited, at times disturbing videos of events from around the world. Scenes of war, traffic accidents, industrial mishaps — that kind of thing.

I do it, weird as my sons think it is, because images of news events often first show up on the site, although I will admit to being fascinated and shocked by the awful behaviour humans so often get up to. Looking at the videos is the 21st century equivalent of slowing down when you pass an accident.

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Another reason I check out the site — LiveLeak.com for those of you with strong stomachs — is that it also features cute animal videos, teenagers doing dumb things with skateboards and other humorous, amazing or entertaining bits of digital flotsam.

Within that category, I stumbled upon a funny guy with a series of what could broadly be described as educational videos about electricity, except that he almost always shocks himself during the “lessons,” usually accompanied by a blue plasma discharge and swearing. The overall effect is one of charming, self-deprecating, nerdy hilarity.