Must-see videos and other time-wasters "go viral" on the Internet all the time. They come from all over the world, but some originated in the Twin Cities, the most recent examples being Tay Zonday and Billiam the Snowman on YouTube.

Heck, you could even count that ubiquitous video-sharing site, which is the new viral breeding ground, because it was co-founded by Jawed Karim, who grew up in St. Paul.

Here's a look at some.

MONOFACE

What it is: Minneapolis-based creative agency Mono wanted to send a New Year's greeting to its clients, so it created a Web-based application called Monoface. Click on the head, mouth, nose or either eye of the computerized visage and it seamlessly rotates among the features of the firm's 15 employees. The facial combinations, 759,375 of them, can be truly bizarre and funny -- a great time-waster.

First posted: Jan. 1.

Going viral: Word spread quickly via bookmark-sharing sites such as StumbleUpon and del.icio.us.

Total views: In Monoface's first three days online, the surge in traffic to the agency's website shut down its servers, says Mono co-founder Jim Scott. The website received 1.8 million hits in the first three months of Monoface vs. 2,500 in the same period of 2006.

Aftermath: Accolades for Monoface have included a Silver Cyber Lion award at the International Advertising Festival in Cannes, France, and a Webby nomination -- and lots of publicity for the agency.

www.mono-1.com/monoface

TAY ZONDAY'S "CHOCOLATE RAIN"

What it is: He looks like Urkel, but sounds like James Earl Jones, observers say. That's Tay Zonday. The creation of University of Minnesota grad student Adam Bahner, the unlikely vocalist scored with a YouTube video for his song "Chocolate Rain," hilariously highlighted by his off-mike gasps for air. He has done other songs, but "Chocolate Rain" has attained a life of its own, Bahner says.

First posted: April 22.

Going viral: The video festered for a few months before taking off in July and becoming the YouTube download of the summer.

Total views: More than 8.3 million at last count.

Aftermath: Parodies and remixes of "Chocolate Rain" have featured Darth Vader, McGruff the Crime Dog and others. Media appearances by Bahner were capped by his August performance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" He will open for Dan Deacon and Girl Talk at Minneapolis' First Avenue on Oct. 5.

www.youtube.com/tayzonday

BMW'S "THE HIRE"