Category Archives: Blog

A song from the musical Les Misérables is making the rounds on Chinese social media after the death of Li Wenliang, the doctor credited as the coronavirus whistleblower. 

The musical’s “Can You Hear The People Sing?” has become rallying cry for pro-democracy protestors in Hong Kong. In the musical and its 2012 movie adaptation, the song is sung to incite a civilian uprising against the oppressive French monarchy. As protests picked up again in June 2019, Chinese music streaming sites took down the song, citing copyright reasons. 

Now, it’s being quoted on social media sites like Weibo as Chinese people grieve the death of a “martyr” and “hero.” But many of the posts praising Li are disappearing, Quartz reports. Read more…

More about Weibo, Wechat, Coronavirus, Culture, and Web Culture

It’s been a week. Between the Iowa caucus disaster, the State of the Union, and Trump’s inability to blend his orange makeup, we’ve been through a lot. We deserve a dash of wholesomeness, and actor Kumail Nanjiani’s father is here to deliver.

Nanjuani made news in December after revealing his ripped look for his role of Kingo in Marvel’s upcoming movie, The Eternals. His abs were a far cry from his everyman pudge he and his characters had rocked previously, so it was a Big Deal.

The internet went bananas once those photos dropped, but it turns out that we’re not the only ones who are into Nanjiani’s muscles. On Saturday, he tweeted out photos of his dad’s socks, adorned with the famous shirtless photo and the text “I AM HIS DAD.” Read more…

More about Twitter, Kumail Nanjiani, Culture, and Web Culture

Some students in Colorado will soon be able to major in weed instead of just smoking it in their dorm rooms. 

Colorado State University-Pueblo just received approval for the state’s first degree program focused on cannabis, the Denver Post reports. The program is called “Cannabis, Biology and Chemistry” and will be similar to a double major in biology and chemistry, dean of the university’s College of Science and Mathematics David Lehmpuhl told the Post. The focus will be on learning the science necessary to succeed in the field. 

Lehmpuhl said the degree will be rigorous. He also stated that the university is not pro or anti cannabis, but rather they know that the industry will continue to grow and they want students to be prepared.  Read more…

More about Cannabis, Weed, Culture, and Drugs

The 2020 Razzie nominations got out ahead of Hollywood’s annual Academy Awards ceremony on Feb. 9. 

For the uninitiated, the Razzies are basically a 180-degree twist on the Oscars, awarding movies and actors for worst performances of the year. Award “winners” in the past include our very own president, who won two in 2019, one for his “worst acting” in Death of a Nation and Fahrenheit 11/9, and another for “worst screen combo” with his self-perpetuating pettiness.

Trump does not show up among the 2020  nominations but Cats, Rambo: Last Blood, and Madea Family Funeral lead the pack with eight nominations each. While Hollywood is buzzing with Oscar predictions, we’ll be placing our bets for who takes home the most Razzies.  Read more…

More about Razzies, Golden Raspberry Awards, Entertainment, and Movies Tv Shows

Journalism is no easy feat, especially for on-air reporters. From being in the middle of a crime scene to speaking with bystanders on the street, they have to face fears many people have — and in front of a camera, no lessAustralian reporter Sarah Cawte had one of those experiences recently as a snake wrapped around her suddenly struck at her mic. 

“He just bit my microphone,” Cawte gasped as the snake draped around her like Britney Spears’s iconic VMA performance went for the head of her mic. After following instructions to stay still, Cawte managed to get back on track and read her lines about snake safety and how snakes are often more scared of humans. In a later interview, Cawte said she was afraid of the snake biting her hand but she ended up getting the shot she needed — and afterwards she needed the snake off her, pronto. “As soon as that was done I said to the snake handler, ‘Get it off me!'” Read more…

More about Viral Video, Culture, and Web Culture

Facebook and Twitter are once again pretending there’s nothing wrong with deceptive behavior in politics.

During Tuesday night’s State of the Union, House speaker Nancy Pelosi upstaged Trump by ripping up his speech. It happened near the end of the evening, just as the president concluded his remarks. The moment predictably went viral, garnering a lot of chatter on social media and memes — including Pelosi later saying she “tore it up.” 

The Trump administration also hopped on the meme bandwagon with an edited video. The 5-minute clip, posted to Trump’s official Facebook and Twitter accounts on Thursday, intercut the Pelosi moment with the president praising national heroes like the Tuskegee Airmen and gold star families during his speech. The text overlaid on the video reads, “Powerful American stories ripped to shreds by Nancy Pelosi.” It has amassed 4.7 million views on Twitter and 2.5 million views on Facebook thus far. Read more…

More about Facebook, Twitter, Donald Trump, Nancy Pelosi, and State Of The Union

Samsung is about to show off its next generation of flagships and, crucially, its next foldable phone.

The company is holding its annual Unpacked event in San Francisco on Feb. 11 where the phone maker is expected to reveal its S20 lineup, an improved AirPods competitor, and an intriguing-sounding foldable phone. 

Mashable will be reporting live from the event, which you can also follow along via live stream on Samsung’s website starting at 2 p.m. EST/11 a.m. PST. And, by most indications, the event will be jam-packed with announcements. 

Here’s what we’re expecting: Read more…

Three versions of the S20

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Google Maps turns 15 years old on Feb. 8, marking a decade and a half of the service telling us which exit to take, recalculating when we completely miss it, and not yelling at us about it like a human with a street directory would.

It’s definitely made some aspects of travel easier. But it hasn’t been without its issues. 

In celebration of Google Maps’ 15th year, here are 15 times things went, shall we say, just a little bit (or a lot) off the map, for better or worse.

1. Man says he caused fake traffic jams on Google Maps with 99 phones

Google Maps’ live traffic updates are intended to make the commute a bit easier. However, according to Berlin-based artist Simon Weckert, the system by which it gathers its information is highly exploitable. In a 2020 performance piece, Weckert dragged a little red handcart full of smartphones down deserted streets, apparently generating a false traffic jam when Google Maps interpreted them as numerous cars. Read more…

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This year’s short film animations were mind-blowing, it was almost impossible to rank them all. Read more…

More about Mashable Video, The Oscars, Animation, Entertainment, and Movies Tv Shows

Donald Trump’s face is making America do a double take again.

On Friday, photographer William Moon, who posts his photos on the Twitter account @photowhitehouse, captured a photo of the president walking across the South Lawn of the White House after returning from Charlotte, North Carolina, and boy is it unsettling.

You’ll immediately notice that Trump’s face is glowing orange. I’m talking Big Tangerine Energy here. Definitely more bronzed than usual. Not only is his face clearly covered in tinted makeup or tanner of some sort, but there’s also clear line where the makeup ends. Trump’s hair is blown back a bit, and his pale scalp halo hovers above what looks like an orange mask. Read more…

More about Memes, Donald Trump, White House, Culture, and Web Culture