It’s happened to pretty much everyone. You’re concentrating on something else when someone sneaks up behind you, covers your eyes with their hands and ask you to guess their identity. While the situation can be quite uncomfortable, imagine the creep factor when a stranger pounces with the sweaty, hands-on-face guessing game. The very idea of it might give you a case of the heebie-jeebies. But that didn’t stop Andrew Hales of YouTube channel Losing All Hope Was Freedom (LAHWF) from giving the guess who game a whirl on unsuspecting people at Brigham Young University. If someone did this to you, how would you respond? Let us know in the comments. Viral Photo Gallery 7 Fake Hurricane Sandy Photos You’re Sharing on Social Media Fake Hurricane Sandy photos flew around Twitter and Facebook on Monday, as users shared jaw-dropping images. Unfortunately, the race to post the most striking pics has most folks skipping the all-important fact check. We’ve gathered up five “Hurricane Sandy” photographs that have spread on the social web, but weren’t actually taken during the massive storm. Obama and Romney Are Your New Dress Up Dolls Still not sure who to vote for? Or maybe you’re dead-set on a candidate, and simply waiting for Election Day next week. Regardless of who you’re voting for on Nov. 6, both of these presidential candidates could use some change — of outfits, that is. The websites Change4Obama and Change4Romney will keep voters entertained until the election. Both sites, created by social discovery site SocialPlex, allow users to dress up Barack Obama or Mitt Romney as various characters. You can mix and match features like hair, eyes, nose and outfits. Your Favorite Logos Reimagined for the Zombie Apocalypse [PICS] There seems to be a craze for reimagining top logos and since this is Halloween, why not rethink them for a zombie apocalypse, right? Assuming that event were to come to pass, here’s what your neighborhood Starbucks and the gas station down the street might look like, as envisioned by artist Ben Fellowes. For more of these horrifying logos, check out his site. New York City Subway Needs a ‘System Restore’ [PIC] Yes, crashed Windows OS, we know the New York City subway system was unable to restart after Hurricane Sandy. And, yes, we would love to run a system restore. After Sandy ravaged the East Coast Monday evening, the subway system in New York City was left crippled. Not immune to inclement weather, the Windows-based display above the 77th Street subway stop seemed to have hit a snag as well. ‘The Walking Dead’ Gets ‘Dear Photograph’ Treatment [PICS] Dear Photograph, a popular nostalgia blog showcasing photos within photos, gave its visitors a terrifying surprise Wednesday: The Walking Dead-inspired posts. Dear Photograph creator Taylor Jones told Mashable he teamed up with FOX International Channels on the Halloween Day images, which folks at The Walking Dead created for their international ad campaign. Each of the two blog posts showcases a zombie and a post-zombie-apocalypse caption. […]
Now more than ever, expecting couples are having gender-reveal parties to celebrate their upcoming babies. When Angela and her husband learned they were having a baby, they knew they wanted a creative and unique gender-reveal party. They also knew without a doubt that their friend Tiniki was just the right person for the job. Seated behind a large box, the happy couple anxiously awaited the moment when they could unwrap it and learn the gender of their baby. But when they saw what was inside, they were surprised. Three white balloons came out of the box, and they moved Angela and her husband to tears. Before this pregnancy, Angela had two miscarriages, and her sister’s unborn child suffered the same fate. These balloons were for them, and they told everyone at the party that while their upcoming baby was something to be joyous about, the three lost babies would not be forgotten. After that touching moment, Angela and her husband learned the gender of their child, but that wasn’t the only surprise Tiniki had in store. Read More: They Planned This Gender-Reveal Party For Weeks, But One Big Thing Was Overlooked (via LittleThings) Congratulations to Angela and her husband on their baby girl! Make sure to share this emotional video with your loved ones. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/gender-reveal-balloons/
Some rescue crews have equipment that helps save the lives of animals, but this unit in Vancouver did not. When this dog needed desperate help after being pulled from a house fire, the firefighters had to act quickly to save his life. After a candle sparked the fire, the dog passed out from smoke inhalation. Thankfully, the crew knew how to use the tools they had to bring this pup back from the edge. It’s a good thing they were quick to act! Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/house-fire-dog-rescue/
Steve Martin has come a long way as a comedian. Before becoming a big screen star known all around the world, he started small (as most comedians do) and was known for smaller parts. Luckily for us, his first TV special, Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy, is hilarious. Martin promises his lover that he will wear something from her as good luck. Unfortunately for him, it’s not just a “pin or something,” as he expected. Watch the video above to see this classic and hilarious turtle-wrangling version of Steve Martin in one of his first comedy videos. Thanks to Official Comedy for sharing the throwback. This Week’s Hot Viral Videos ‘Simon’s Cat’ Partakes in the Animal Olympics A new “Simon’s Cat” video hit the web Saturday, and this one gets into the competitive spirit of the Olympics … with a snail race. Will Ferrell Lashes Out at Kristen ‘Trampire’ Stewart Someone give Will Ferrell a box of tissues and pint of Ben & Jerry’s because the funnyman needs help healing his broken heart. Ferrell sat down with Conan O’Brien and let his emotions spill out as he discussed the recent breakup of Twilight stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson (or “Patterson,” as Ferrell referred to him). A Real Dad Won’t Save You if You’re ‘Taken’ The 2008 thriller Taken, about an American girl kidnapped by human traffickers in Paris, raised anxiety levels for many worrywort parents. The film isn’t based on a true story, but that didn’t stop moms and dads from wondering what they would do in a similar situation. 90-Year-Old Pole Vaulter Will Make You Feel Lazy Meet Dr. William Bell, a 90-year-old fitness nut who holds a pole vault world record for his age group. Pfft, as if a bunch of buff 20-something Olympic swimmers prancing their six-packs around the pool didn’t already make us all feel like a bunch of unaccomplished cubicle potatoes this week. Envy aside, Dr. Bell could provide a helpful dose of pick-me-up to any of us feeling a bit lapsed in the physical fitness department Choo-Choo-Choose to Watch Excited Train Guy Maybe it’s the rumble of the engine or the sound of the horn, but something has this train enthusiast yelling with excitement. The railfan — yes, that’s a real thing — squeals behind the camera as a rare 1953 EA Heritage Train engine rolls through a New York station. As one YouTuber put it, “Double Trainbow!” Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/10/08/young-steve-martin-was-a-turtle-riding-drag-queen-video/
If an adorable robot asked you a series of personal questions (“Who do you love most in the world?” “What really scares you?”), would you be more inclined to answer than if asked by a human? As a part of a documentary project affiliated with the TriBeCa Film Festival, cute robots with video cameras for eyes have been filming people as they answer various sensitive questions. Called “Robots in Residence” and created by robot company BlabDroid, the footage collected from Friday until Sunday, April 21 from festival attendees will be pieced together for a short film. It will become the first documentary filmed entirely by pre-programmed robots. The concept is based on the “ELIZA effect,” a theory from a computer scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who believes people are more likely to engage emotionally with artificial intelligence than others. The robots are small and unassuming, with a sweet smile and the voice of a seven-year-old boy. “Tell me something you’ve never told a stranger before,” it asks. From deep secrets to confessions of only visiting a dentist once, here’s a trailer of what to expect: The robots are intended to be comforting and non-judgmental, so people can have real interactions with them. The company also launched a Kickstarter project this week to help bring the robots into the consumer market. Robots in Residence is a part of the TriBeCa Film Festival’s first annual Storyscapes exhibit, which features five transmedia projects that embrace telling stories in a creative, unique way. One project will be named the winner. What do you think of the project? Would you feel more comfortable telling personal information to a robot? Let us know in the comments below. Images via Mashable Read more: http://mashable.com/2013/04/19/robot-documentary/
Are you ready to view the most remarkable video you’ve seen all month? Strap yourself in, because Making View created the world’s first spherical 360-degree video of a Formula One racer screaming around the Rudskogen facility in Norway. The video was shot using Making View’s ViewCam 360, a spherical lens and video technology that lets viewers watch the video in any direction (except up). You can even take an especially dramatic look straight down at the vehicle as it flies around the track at breakneck speed. It’s easy to control, either with your mouse or with the arrow keys on your keyboard, and you can hit the space bar to stop. We immediately went for the highest quality, but even with an unusually fast broadband connection, we needed to wait for the video to buffer for a while before it will stream smoothly. Oh, and be sure to click the full screen icon for maximum thrillage. Making View is a veteran at creating these 360-degree views, but now it’s venturing into video versions with its ViewCam 360, teaming up with Red Bull for this technological demonstration. We’d say it’s a smashing success. Not only is the video delightfully crisp from all angles, but the audio is dramatic enough to get your heart pounding. It’s been a dramatic few weeks for Red Bull, the caffeinated sugary drink company that can’t seem to get enough of sponsoring way-cool technological extravaganzas. Even this jaw-dropping video doesn’t quite match Red Bull’s previous stunt, the harrowing leap of Felix Baumgartner from the edge of space, 24 miles high. How on earth (or in space) will Red Bull be able to top these two stunts? [via Autoblog] Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/11/01/f1-360-degree-video/
Loretta Lynch, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, speaks during a news conference in New York, Monday, April 28, 2014. Lynch Image: Seth Wenig/Associated Press UPDATE, Nov. 7, 6:15 p.m. ET: On Friday evening, the White House announced President Barack Obama’s intent to nominate U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch to be the Attorney General of the United States on Saturday. “Ms. Lynch is a strong, independent prosecutor who has twice led one of the most important U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the country,” said the statement from the White House press office. Obama is set to make the announcement in the Roosevelt Room at the White House alongside Attorney General Eric Holder and Lynch, who is the U.S. attorney for Eastern New York. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio urged the Senate to confirm Lynch’s nomination in a statement released after the White House announcement. “President Obama has chosen a great New Yorker as the country’s highest-ranking law enforcement official,” de Blasio said. “The nation is about to meet Loretta Lynch for the first time—but in the five boroughs, she is already known for her character, toughness and uncompromising sense of justice.” Lynch, had emerged before the announcement as Obama’s top choice. While some had said Obama was not ready to announce a nomination, unnamed sources with knowledge of his thinking had told multiple news outlets that Lynch was his leading candidate. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest emphasized during a press briefing earlier Friday, however, that Obama had not yet decided on his nominee. Outside of legal circles, Lynch has flown under the radar for quite some time, despite having handled major cases in the U.S. Here are five key things to know about the intended nominee: 1. Lynch would be the first female African-American attorney general. United States Attorney Loretta E. Lynch speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Attorney’s office, on Monday, June 17, 2013, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Image: John Minchillo/Associated Press The milestone nomination would make Lynch the first African-American woman to hold the job if she is actually is nominated by Obama, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Lynch was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1959, and is the daughter of a pastor. She graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School, has been a federal prosecutor and also worked at several private law firms. Lynch, 55, would be Obama’s second trailblazing pick for the post after Eric Holder served as the nation’s first African-American attorney general. 2. She successfully prosecuted police in the Abner Louima case. Image: Todd Plitt/Associated Press During her first tenure in the Eastern District, Lynch helped prosecute police officers who severely beat and sexually assaulted Haitian immigrant Abner Louima with a broken broom handle. The high-profile case led to the conviction of New York City police officer Justin Volpe and others. As the U.S. attorney for Eastern New York, Lynch covers Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Long Island. 3. Lynch prosecuted a Republican […]
This isn’t a story about a new bionic eye technology that’s yet to undergo testing or a cool robotic eye that’s actually just a camera in disguise. This is a story about a bionic eye technology that might actually make it outside the laboratories and into the real world. In May, a prototype of Bionic Vision Australia’s technology was implanted behind one of the retinas of a woman named Dianne Ashworth. When it was switched on recently, 54-year-old Ashworth — who’s been blind for the past 30 years due to retinitis pigmentosa — was able to see lights and shapes again. “I didn’t know what to expect, but all of a sudden, I could see a little flash… It was amazing,” she said. “Every time there was stimulation there was a different shape that appeared in front of my eye.” The researchers still have a lot do before the bionic eye can fully restore a person’s eyesight. But they hope to make it happen after studying Ashworth’s experiences with the implant. They’re developing and testing more advanced prototypes at the moment and have plans to implant those into other patients as well. This article originally published at Tecca here Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/08/31/bionic-eye-blind/
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DTBT_ATF’); }); Kids, those precious, adorable, sassy humans, really do say the darnedest things sometimes. Case in point: this video by a little girl named JoJo. When told to go to the bathroom before heading to bed, the dramatic girl had some choice words for her father. JoJo’s bed-wetting issue is clearly not something she’s happy to admit, so when Dad tells her she’s probably going to end up peeing her bed, she decided to sing a hilarious song. The goal? Persuading her father that her bed would be completely dry come tomorrow morning. I feel like she was made for drama school. Her movements are so expressive. Here’s hoping JoJo had an accident-free night! Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/i-wont-wet-the-bed/
From ancient Babylonia to the birth of surrealism to beloved video game characters, mustaches have been the source of the universe’s greatest achievements — just ask Nick Offerman. The dignified mustache enthusiast from TV’s Parks and Recreation is back in a PSA for Movember, explaining how facial hair is an important, defining factor in history. Offerman partnered with Made Men to create the video, which encourages everyone to ditch oppressive razors during November and raise awareness and funds to combat prostate cancer. So prepare to become a part of history by embracing your manly au naturel. BONUS: 12 Comedian Quotes for When Your Job Makes You Want to Cry Inspiring Comedian Quotes 1. Image: Sean Gallup/Getty Images 2. Image: Larry Busacca/Getty Images 3. Image: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images 4. Image: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images 5. Image: Jemal Countess/Getty Images 6. Image: Getty, Newsmakers 7. Image: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Amnesty International 8. Image: Jemal Countess/Getty Images 9. Image: Jason Kempin/Getty Images 10. Image: CARLOS SCHIEBECK/AFP/Getty Images 11. Image: Ken Howard/Getty Images 12. Image: Matt Carr/Getty Images Read more: http://mashable.com/2013/10/23/nick-offerman-moustache-history/
