Building sandcastles in a satin gown. Boogie boarding in a tuxedo. Sunbathing in a top hat. Confused? If so, you can probably relate to the unsuspecting Coney Island beachgoers who witnessed this year’s Black Tie Beach Day. Improv Everywhere coordinated the snazzy sand ‘n’ surf soirée. Hundreds of participants dressed up fairytale ball-style and hit the beach for a sunny Saturday afternoon filled with typical seaside activities. The professional pranksters pulled off the stunt last month and just released a YouTube video of the shenanigans that show the hilariously confused reactions at the event. BONUS: Exclusive Photographs of Black Tie Beach Day Black Tie Beach Day 1. Bow Tie and Beach Towel 2. “What’s this guy’s deal, Mommy?” 3. Cheers, Darling 4. Prom 1998 — Wooo! 5. Tails in the Surf 6. Nap Sand Fort 7. Contemplative 8. Taking a Stroll 9. Frolic 10. Swimmies for Safety First 11. Sand Strut 12. Confused Beachgoer 13. Making a Splash 14. Hmmm 15. Hugs? 16. Also Formal Robot Day? 17. Frisbee Time Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/09/10/improv-everywhere-black-tie-beach-day-2012/
Livescribe, the company whose magic smartpen makes taking notes a whole lot easier, is back with completely revamped capabilities and cloud integration that almost makes you want to be a student again. The company’s new Sky Wi-Fi smartpen has been recording what you hear and synchronizing it to what you write since it launched in 2008, but it now digitizes and syncs notes across iOS and Android devices via the cloud. The new pen – which is available starting Monday at retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy and Livescribe.com — is a huge leap forward for the company who already makes the note-taking process that much more painless for students and business people. If you’re not familiar with how it works, here’s a quick rundown: When taking notes with a Livescribe pen in its accompanying black notebook – which features high-tech dot paper for digitizing the content — the pen records everything you write and hear. To replay the audio, users can tap a word in the section of notes and the recording will begin playing from that exact spot. Now, the updated pen takes it a step further with cloud capabilities, so it’s possible to access content remotely via smartphones, tablets and PCs. It also launched a full integration with social networks and Evernote, allowing users to wirelessly send digitized notes directly to their accounts. Although notes could be sent to Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox and Evernote in the past, mobile integration in the cloud for the first time. (The connector buttons for the social networks will be available starting early 2013.) The new cloud capabilities shine via the service’s existing Pencast feature in Evernote, a note-taking app which helps users keep track of to-do lists, save ideas and stay organized. Similar to watching a movie, a Pencast relives exactly how notes were taken: After pressing play, audio starts and notes that were taken at that time will appear on screen in sync. Evernote, which already has more than 40 million subscribers, is a natural fit for Livescribe because its userbase is already note-taking savvy and looking for new ways to stay organized. The news about the partnership comes just a few days after Evernote announced more than 100 new features to its platform. Developers will be able to integrate content created with the Sky Wi-Fi smartpen into apps and services too. The company announced on Monday the pre-release of the Livescribe Mobile SDK (0.9), with limited availability starting in December. A launch for Android is expected to debut before the end of the year, while iOS is planned for early next year. Because the Mobile SDK will allow the smartpen to connect directly with tablets and smartphones via Wi-Fi, new opportunities will undoubtedly open for developers looking to integrate the pen into platforms. The Sky Wi-Fi smartpen comes in various models with different pricing options: 2GB (200 hours of audio recording time), $169.95; 4GB (400 hours), $199.95; 8GB (800 hours of audio, plus a one-year subscription to Evernote Premium), […]
If you’ve been following Mashable over the past 24 hours, chances are you know pretty much everything you possibly could about the iPhone 5. But you really don’t know anything until you’ve heard this song. Set to a funky track that sounds like an Eminem beat, jazzman Paul the Trombonist raps and recites all the iPhone 5’s key traits and specs. Paul, you’ll remember, is also the man who brought the world the techie hit “Playing With Your Phone While Sitting on the Toilet” last February. Check out his latest offering above, and let us know what you think in the comments. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/09/13/iphone-5-song/
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DTBT_ATF’); }); Updating your backyard space doesn’t need to require spending a lot of time or money. Why spend a small fortune on manufactured furniture or accessories when you can make your own and have fun doing it?! With summer slowly coming to a close, don’t forget you’ve still got time to enjoy the outdoors in the early fall. In other words, there’s plenty of time to spruce up your backyard patios! Here are 21 DIY patio upgrades and essentials that are sure to put a little perk in your summer step. 1. This bright bar can bring a pop of color to your backyard festivities. Better Homes And Gardens googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DCBM_BTF’); }); 2. You’ll never run out of seating space with this cinder block bench. 3. Your patio isn’t complete without an awesome drink station. I Should Be Mopping The Floor 4. Transform those stray stones into a tic-tac-toe game everyone can enjoy. Designing, Dining And Diapers 5. I can feel the feng shui in this backyard lounge space. The Apprentice Extrovert 6. Wooden pallets can be used to build a variety of things, like this daybed. Lovely Greens googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DCI1_BTF’); }); 7. This couch has room for the whole fam! 101 Pallet Ideas 8. By adding some bright colors, a rug, and some throw pillows, you can really make your space pop. Better Homes And Gardens 9. This crafter used old dog food bags to make this epic woven chair. Instructables / katvanlew 10. Giant Yahtzee, anyone? Dallas Moms Blog 11. Duct tape lawn pillows are water resistant AND pretty! Instructables / annahowardshaw 12. These lights might rack up a hefty bar tab, but you won’t remember it in the morning. Instructables / ARGMISTER googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DCI2_BTF’); }); 13. Dining never looked so cool with this DIY patio table. Instructables / Nick Thomas Design 14. Don’t forget to tip the bartender! Break in your new bar with a backyard party. Instructables / AmateurHour 15. Add a rustic touch with this incredible pallet chair. Funky Junk Interiors 16. Is this a backyard or a jungle? With these chairs you’ll never know the difference. Instructables / peterman921 17. No patio is complete without a hanging chair. The Merry Thought 18. Build yourself this simple pergola. Kojo Designs 19. Jenga isn’t just an indoor game anymore. Dallas Moms Blog 20. When the sun goes away, your party can still slay with these mason jar lanterns. Orchard Girls 21. Why spend money to go to the movies, when you can stream the latest films in your own backyard? The Horticult If I start working on all of these projects now, by this time next year I can throw the most epic backyard party imaginable! Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/backyard-diy-projects/
Miss New York Kira Kazantsev walks the runway after she was named Miss America 2015.Image: Mel Evans/Associated Press Miss New York, Kira Kazantsev, took home the title of Miss America during Sunday’s competition, making it the third consecutive year Miss New York has snagged the crown. During the interview portion of the event, Kazantsey was asked what issue she would want female U.S. Senators to advocate for, to which she answered sexual assault in the military. And during the talent competition, Kazantsey performed a cover of Pharrell’s hit song “Happy” and managed to incorporate a bit of Anna Kendrick’s “Cups” routine from the film Pitch Perfect. Kazantsey, a 23-year-old graduate of Hofstra University, is an aspiring lawyer, and was recently accepted to Fordham University’s law school. Although she represented New York, she actually grew up in California. An advocate for domestic violence awareness, Kazantsey takes the crown from last year’s winner, Nina Davuluri. Miss Virginia Courtney Paige Garrett received first runner up. BONUS: 13 Royally Odd Things You Missed at Miss America Miss America Highlights 1. Spelling errors 2. A Ventriloquist puppet that looked oddly like Joan Rivers. 3. Collared evening wear 4. A nod to Pop-Up Video 5. Twirls 6. A pre-show “Hottest Dad” contest 7. A thumb war to decide the winner 8. Cheetah attacks So I guess @Pharrell and I can’t stop collaborating. #MissAmerica #WhatIsHappening?? pic.twitter.com/AhsTA62PJJ — Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) September 15, 2014 9. Anna Kendrick tweeting about Miss New York’s “Happy” cups performance 10. A baaaaad goat impression 11. Dramatic turns #Judging pic.twitter.com/cOsVUj9om6 — Gary Vaynerchuk (@garyvee) September 15, 2014 12. Gary Vaynerchuk: Businessman, Wine Guy, Selfie-Snapping Miss America Judge 13. Miss New York winning, giving the state a three-peat Image: AP Photo/Julio Cortez/Associated Press Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/09/14/miss-new-york-miss-america/
Remember way back in March 2012, when a robot cheetah designed by the Pentagon’s finest minds failed to outrun Olympian sprinter Usain Bolt? Remember how the metal creature’s mere 18 miles an hour — when compared to Bolt’s all-time high of 27.79 mph — provided humanity with some shred of dignity and self-assurance? Okay, maybe you don’t remember all of that. But if you do, forget it. Because the cybernetic cat is back — and it just beat Bolt’s best time. The Cheetah, as it is officially known, was created by a company called Boston Dynamics and funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency or DARPA, the same group of military minds that brought us the Internet. In a video DARPA just released, seen above, the Cheetah laughs off Bolt’s challenge. Loping strangely along on four metal legs, the creature reaches 29.3 mph before its need for speed trips it up. What’s more, Bolt could only sustain that pace for 20 meters (and he had a little tailwind action, if truth be told). In theory, the Cheetah could complete an entire marathon in less than an hour. DARPA hopes this strange device could help foot soldiers on the battlefields of the future, like some kind of invincible sniffer dog on speed. But given that its inventions tend to have peacetime implications — you may have noticed that Internet thing isn’t just for defense scientists any more — we expect plenty of unintended consequences. Will robots compete in the Olympics of the 2020s and take all our medals? Will they challenge us to street races and laugh as we cough and splutter in last place? I, for one, would like to welcome our new superfast overlords. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/09/05/robot-faster-usain-bolt/
You might remember Aliaksei Zholner as the guy who made a fully-functioning v6 engine out of paper. Now, he’s back with an even smaller, single-cylinder engine, also made of paper. Hopefully, his next project is making a paper car to put them in. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/man-builds-a-tiny-single-cylinder-engine-out-of-nothing-but-paper/
Is there anything that movie makers can’t do with today’s technology? When it comes to something on screen (not counting the sodas thrown by a rambunctious youngster), the things filmmakers can do today would blow any movie from the past out of the water. The visual effects (or VFX) artists in Hollywood today are working miracles for these films. Check out what these recent blockbusters looked like before and after VFX were added, and see for yourself. The Avengers Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes Life of Pi Godzilla RoboCop Elysium Ender’s Game The Wolverine A Good Day To Die Hard The Monuments Men 300: Rise Of An Empire Check out this video to see what another blockbuster movie looked like before and after VFX were added. (via IziSmile) I know they call it “movie magic,” but I was still surprised to see how otherworldly the work of the VFX artists really is. It’s incredible how far we’ve come with effects over the years. Read more: http://viralnova.com/movies-before-vfx/
Melissa Irons had a rough childhood. Because her mom was in and out of prison, she was raised by multiple foster families. So when she became an adult, she joined the marines to find some structure and discipline — something she’d seriously lacked growing up. In an effort to save her brothers from a similar fate, Irons wanted to adopted the young boys. That’s when Prank It Forward stepped in. Watch how the show helped the 21-year-old marine get to her brothers, and how a big gift changed their lives, too! If you’d like to help out this happy, reunited family, you can contribute directly to their GoFundMe. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/prank-forward-foster/
