Category Archives: Blog

These nuns are fighting guns with guns. Sort of. 

The Northwest Coalition for Responsible Investment, a collective of about a dozen nun associations, invests in companies so they can then use their shareholder status to sway the companies into supporting human rights issues. 

Issues have ranged from climate change to indigenous rights, but in the last few years, the nuns have shifted their focus to gun control, specifically investing in gun manufacturers because they are the “only group that isn’t involved in the issue.”  Read more…

More about Parkland, Gun Control, Social Good, and Web Culture

Barack Obama is well-known for his dad behavior, particularly in the style department. On Friday, though, he achieved his most dad accomplishment yet — accidentally assuming two people were a couple.

The incident occurred during a campaign stop with Illinois gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker. The two visited Urbana restaurant Caffe Paradiso, where they drank tea (Obama paid) and met with constituents.

According to tweets from CNN political reporter Dan Merica, Obama asked two people he was chatting with if they were a “pair.” They reportedly did not answer right away — an ominous sign that they had perhaps not yet Defined the Relationship, or were, in fact, not dating at all. Read more…

More about Politics, Culture, Barack Obama, Culture, and Politics

We went to Whisperlodge, an in-person ASMR experience advertised as a “spa for the senses” where trained guides use everyday objects to help you relax. Read more…

More about Mashable Video, Asmr, Culture, and Web Culture

Mac Miller has reportedly passed away due to a drug overdose, according to TMZ. 

The 26-year-old rapper was allegedly found in his home on Friday, and was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The musician worked with folks across the entertainment industry, and produced critically acclaimed albums throughout his career. His latest album Swimming was released on August 5th.  

Celebrity and fan reactions began pouring in on Twitter once the news broke on Friday afternoon. 

More about Mac Miller, Dead, Culture, and Celebrities

Read more…More about Sexting, Apps. Security, Mashable Reels, Sn Reels, and Tech

Last night, a man took a relaxing hit off a joint. Or, to put it another way for readers in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Alaska, Nevada, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, and the District of Columbia: It was a Thursday.

The man happened to be Elon Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX. The joint — technically a spliff or blunt, as it was marijuana mixed with tobacco — happened to be proffered by comedian and wrestling commentator Joe Rogan, who was streaming his show live from the state of California. “It’s legal, right?” asked Musk as he took Rogan up on his offer.  

More about Tesla, Marijuana, Cannabis, Marijuana Legalization, and Culture

Dating. Whether you hate it a little or hate it a lot, it’s a rite of passage for most of us.

It’s also particularly challenging for members of the LGBTQ community, who’ve traditionally only had access to hetero-based sites and apps. When I was on the apps in the late aughts, queer women could barely be found. I met so many cis straight men who checked the “women seeking women” box so they could match with queer women who, they fantasized, would magically change their sexual orientation just for them. (Nope.) 

Some of that hasn’t changed in 2018. But as the number of out LGBTQ people has grown, so too have their opportunities in online dating spaces. Queer-friendly dating apps and sites are multiplying, and there are even a few that are — wait for it — pretty damn good. Read more…

More about Lgbtq, Online Dating, Tinder, Grindr, and Shopping Ziffdavis

E-scooters can really rile people up — whether it’s cities trying to contain the onslaught of the mini motorized vehicles, or celebs such as actor-turned-venture-capitalist Ashton Kutcher fighting for their rights at a tech conference, it seems we are a nation divided.

And sometimes, it’s the scooter companies that can get all hot and bothered.

Take Lime, for example. Last week, the San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency shut down any aspirations the scooter-share company had of operating in the city, instead giving two newer companies, Scoot and Skip, permits to test scooters within the city for the next year.  Read more…

More about Uber, San Francisco, Scooters, Lime, and Tech

Instagram Stories are about to get more dramatic. The app is adding six new “Superzoom” effects to its in-app Stories camera.

In case you need a refresher, Superzoom is the camera feature, which lives alongside Boomerang and other effects, that creates three-second zoomed-in videos, often with sound effects and animations. The meme-worthy feature has been in the app since October last year, and soon inspired a crop of ridiculously adorable dog memes. 

But now the popular feature is getting an upgrade, with six new variations. Among the new effects: a heart-filled fog with cheesy music, paparazzi-like camera flashes, flames, and a big red x. There’s also a particularly emo-looking animation called “bummer,” which features black leaves falling against a melancholy soundtrack (in case you want to be woken up when September ends). Read more…

More about Tech, Instagram, Apps And Software, Instagram Stories, and Tech

Quincy Jones has too many awards, accolades, and accomplishments to list.

And the legendary musician and film producer’s upcoming Netflix documentary, directed by his own daughter Rashida Jones, features almost as many stars. 

The trailer for Quincy shines a spotlight on the influence he had on some of the most talented people in the entire entertainment industry: Oprah Winfrey, Kendrick Lamar, Will Smith, Lady Gaga. And we heard a little Barack Obama moment in there too.

But the doc appears to focus on his life both before and after becoming the iconic Quincy Jones. 

You can catch it on Netflix Sept. 21. Read more…

More about Entertainment, Netflix, Documentary, Rashida Jones, and Quincy Jones