Category Archives: Blog

There is one, and only one, thing in this world that is unequivocally true: This baby flamingo deserves everyone’s support.

Flamingos often stand on one leg, a habit researchers think arose because it allows the birds to expend less muscular energy while they’re stationary. So it’s important that young flamingos learn to do this at an early age, and it’s even more important that we cheer for this very soft-looking flamingo chick as it practices. 

You can clap, you can scream, you can shout “good hustle” like an overbearing parent at a seventh grade B-team volleyball game. Just do something.  Read more…

More about Viral Videos, Flamingos, Culture, and Animals

Oof. Yikes. A new copypasta has everyone softblocking problematic villains from well known stories, all in the name of the meme. 

Urban Dictionary defines softblocking as “A phrase often used by Twitter users to describe the blocking of another person, then immediate unblock.” 

Essentially, it forces the blocked party to unknowingly unfollow the user so they stop interacting with the user’s tweets. 

It’s a passive-aggressive — but drama-skirting — way to get someone out of your social sphere. When Twitter users find out that someone has been problematic — whether it’s a terrible take they had on a marginalized group or allegations of sexual harassment — they’ll softblock the person to gently remove them from their online social lives.  Read more…

More about Twitter, Memes, Books, Culture, and Web Culture

So we all know FaceApp is sketchy. But uniquely sketchy? Not so fast. 

Years after its rocky and arguably racist start, FaceApp once again jumped to viral fame this month before users pointed out the selfie-filter app had a questionable privacy policy. People were shocked (shocked!) that the app, among other unsettling practices, gathered location data. 

While there’s something decidedly unpleasant about realizing only too late that the app on your phone is too invasive for your liking, here’s the thing: Pretty much all popular free apps are invasive to some degree. In fact, many of the free applications you likely have on your smartphone have privacy policies that make FaceApp’s look good.  Read more…

More about Iphone, Apps, Faceapp, Tech, and Smartphones

When a young model tried to shine a light on a predatory photographer’s slimy work ethic, Instagram took down her post because it was considered “bullying.” 

Celebrity photographer Marcus Hyde is known for shooting icons like Kim Kardashian and Ariana Grande. He posted a call for models on his Instagram story days ago, accompanied by a photo of a woman in a wet bodysuit and stars over her genitals and nipples. Sunnaya, an LA-based model and interior design student, responded to his story in hopes of posing for Hyde. 

In response, he messaged her back with “Nude?”

More about Instagram, Photography, Model, Culture, and Web Culture

Read more…More about Coupons, Tech, and Consumer Tech

Snapchat is more popular than ever, and that’s very good news for Snap. 

The company reported its second quarter results for 2019, revealing that user growth is again on the rise — by a lot.

Snapchat’s daily active users (DAUs), one of the app’s most closely watched metrics, grew to 203 million, up from 190 million last quarter. That’s a new high for the app, and the biggest gains it has made since 2016. It’s also significantly higher than Wall Street analysts’ expectations, most of which estimated the app would add about 2 million new users.

More about Tech, Snapchat, Evan Spiegel, Snap Inc, and Tech

Every so often a photograph captures a facial expression so priceless that you feel compelled to print it out, frame it, and do something really dramatic like sneak it into the Louvre. 

Today I am pleased to announce that I had one of those moments.

The museum-worthy photograph to which I’m referring was taken on Tuesday afternoon by Roll Call photojournalist Bill Clark. He happened to be standing by the Ohio Clock Corridor in the Capitol at the absolute perfect time, and was able to capture the smug grin on Jon Stewart’s face seconds after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell walked past.  Read more…

More about Jon Stewart, September 11, Mitch Mcconnell, Culture, and Politics

TL;DR: Get the perfectly compact Samsung Galaxy Tab for $249.99 at Amazon and save $80 (off the normally $329 price) with a coupon.

Dorm rooms are small — like really small. Some might even say basically the same size as a closet, and when you add a roommate, forget about it. 

Small spaces mean big sacrifices, like leaving more than half of your clothes at home and ditching your queen-sized bed for a not-so-comfy twin XL. 

But entertainment is one place you won’t have to make any sacrifices. The Samsung Galaxy Tab offers the quality of a full entertainment system in a dorm-sized device. With Dolby Atmos surround sound you’ll feel immersed in your favorite music and shows, so while you’re binging Stranger Things you’ll feel like the Demogorgon is right there with you.  Read more…

More about Amazon, Samsung, Tablets, Mashable Shopping, and Tech

Drop off your car and let it find itself a parking spot.

On Tuesday, the Mercedes-Benz company Daimler and German car parts company Bosch unveiled their driverless parking without supervision (either in or outside the car) at a German parking garage. 

At the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, cars with new Mercedes automotive technology and the automated valet parking app can be dropped off at the bottom of the garage and will then proceed to park themselves in assigned spots without anyone watching over the process. Bosch sensors throughout the garage communicate with the connected cars to direct them how to maneuver through the structure.  Read more…

More about Bosch, Mercedes Benz, Autonomous Vehicles, Daimler, and Parking

TL;DR: Get this convenient George Foreman electric grill for indoor and outdoor use for only $54.99 at Walmart. You save $44 off a grill that can cook up to 15 servings. 

Outdoor grilling season is here, but you can’t rely on the weather to always cooperate. And your typical gas grill can take up a lot of precious space if your patio is lacking. That’s why George Foreman grills are still so popular after all these years, and Walmart has an amazing offer on one that’s meant to serve up to 15. 

Just don’t pull a Michael Scott and burn an extremity because you just had to grill up some bedside bacon.  Read more…

More about Home, Cooking, Kitchen, Grilling, and Mashable Shopping