The Nuna Pepp is sure to make you wonder why Americans need to have everything so big. The European stroller, which only recently debuted in the United States, is compact and incredibly light, weighing in at just 19 pounds. Despite its smaller size, the stroller still has a shade, storage basket and five-point harness. We had a chance to test drive the Pepp stroller, and found it to be snappy, compact and very chic. Assembly was a breeze, and it folds incredibly flat for easy storage. The compactness of the stroller is probably its best feature; place it side-by-side with a typical American stroller, and you’ll definitely see the difference. The Pepp is also made for one-hand navigation, so no more coffee-stained shirts while pushing your baby. The five-point harness, however, is something to get used to. Because it requires so many clicks into and out of place, prepare for a greater struggle with your writhing little one. What’s more, the basket underneath is reminiscent of typical European car trunks — very small without much room for storage. The Nuna Pepp retails for about $300, so it isn’t the cheapest stroller on the market, but urban dwellers will appreciate what it has to offer. Read more Crash Test Mom gadget reviews on Mashable Image: YouTube, Crash Test Mom Natali Morris Natali is a technology reporter and host/editor-in-chief of Crash Test Mom, a parenting product review show. She is a regular contributor to CNBC and The TODAY Show, as well as an MBA student at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. She is …More Read more: http://mashable.com/2013/09/29/nuna-pepp-stroller/
Cauldrons? Check. Pumpkins? Check. Candy, ghosts and goblins? Check, check, check. Oct. 31 isn’t only about tricks and treats — it’s about stimulating the economy. With 170 million Americans participating in Halloween festivities, there’s a lot of cash being spent on ghoulish items. Personal finance forum WiseBread looked into Halloween spending, and found that from 2007 to 2012, Americans shelled out an average of $28.65 on costumes. What’s more, they spent $370 million costumes for pets within those five years. (For some, though, it’s worth seeing their pooch dressed as a giraffe.) Interestingly, people are turning to social media more often to get ideas for the perfect Halloween getup. Pinterest is a popular source of ideas for All Hallows’ Eve, with 4.2% consulting the online pinboard, while 2.8% are logging on Twitter to get inspiration for costumes. Check out the infographic below to see more stats on the spookiest night of the year. Halloween by the Numbers: With the economy already looking pretty darn scary, will Halloween be tame by comparison? Or is Halloween still an excuse for us to throw on a mask, go wild with fake blood, and forget all about our financial misery? Image: Wise Bread How much did you spend on Halloween this year? Tell us in the comments below. BONUS: 15 Unbelievable Halloween Makeup Tutorials on YouTube 15 Unbelievable Halloween Makeup Tutorials on YouTube 1. Emily from The Corpse Bride Make sure you walk around with your eyes closed, or this costume will become even more creepy. 2. Nina from Black Swan Even if you can’t dance, at least you can perfect this eye makeup. 3. Pinhead from Hellraiser This is a lot less painless than actually putting nails into your head. 4. Zombie We never thought flaps of “skin” could be so intriguing… 5. Scar from The Lion King With the exception of the scar, this look was completed entirely with paint, and we love it! 6. Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland One of the simpler looks, but a red wig is required. 7. Pop Art Comic books come to life. 8. Jigsaw from Saw This video is infinitely creepier than the costume itself. 8. Edward Scissorhands Scissors for hands not required. 10. Zombie Skeleton Although the video doesn’t provide step-by-step directions, just watching the process is helpful. 11. Classic Skeleton One of the simple, classic looks that’s easy to copy. 12. Unzipped Face This is the only video in which the demonstrator talks about what she’d change to make it better, but we say it’s realistic enough. 13. Neytiri from Avatar Novice Na’vi? No problem. 14. Sonic the Hedgehog You can probably skip the eyebrow glue and pencils and freehand this look. 15. The Joker from The Dark Knight Why so serious? BONUS: Mouth/Neck A new take on “necking” this Halloween. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/10/28/halloween-spending/
Music legend Dolly Parton is going to contribute four original songs to the independent film, Olive, the first feature film shot entirely on a cell phone. Olive is the story of a little girl who changes the lives of three people, all without speaking a word. It also stars two-time Academy Award nominee Gena Rowlands Although Olive was shot entirely on a Nokia N8 camera (which at the time was the only full 1080p cell phone camera on the market), the film doesn’t have a “cell phone video” look. Co-directors Hooman Khalili and Pat Gilles retrofitted 35mm lens from a film camera from the 1940s and placed it atop the sensor on the N8. This allowed the directors to have full control over depth-of-field and other focal controls essential to creating a great looking motion picture. You can watch the first five minutes of the film below, to see just how good the video is. Dolly Signs On I had the opportunity to see the film two weeks ago, at a private screening in New York City, and walked away from the film truly impressed. I wasn’t the only one. Khalili spoke at METal International earlier this year in an effort to promote the film. That led to a chance encounter with Dolly Parton. After watching Olive, Parton was so impressed, she committed to writing four original songs for the film. The songs were recorded at Kent Wells Studios just outside Nashville earlier this month. It’s looking like the songs might be released alongside Parton’s upcoming memoir which is set for release later this year. From Democratized Filmmaking to Democratized Distribution For the team behind Olive, Parton’s support is an affirmation of the idea that filmmaking and film distribution can be democratized. Khalili told me that part of the impetus in deciding to use a cell phone, rather than a traditional digital video camera, for the project was to save cost. For an aerial shot, the small size of the phone’s camera allowed the shot to be done atop a remote controlled helicopter, rather than from a real helicopter which could cost thousands of dollars. The next step is distribution. The Olive producers — which include former-Facebook executive Chris Kelly — are actively speaking with a number of studios and distribution shops to get the film out to viewers. After seeing the film, I think it’s target audience is likely women and families. I see it playing very well in middle America and on the Hallmark Channel or other family outlets. The Olive team wants to make the film available in a video-on-demand basis, ideally partnering with Vudu and Walmart for distribution. We think this approach would make sense both in terms of the audience and as a way to showcase the power of digital distribution. The Modern Independent Film In the age of Kickstarter, digital distribution and low-cost/high-quality video sensors, the world of independent filmmaking has drastically changed. Back in December, Ed Burns told me that Twitter has fundamentally […]
Runner’s shoes are laid out in a display titled, ‘Dear Boston: Messages from the Marathon Memorial’ in the Boston Public Library to commemorate the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, on April 14, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts. Image: Andrew Burton/Getty Images When I ran my first Boston Marathon in 2009, I was stunned by the aura. Most marathon crowds pack a part of the course and disappear for the out-of-the-way stretches, but the Boston crowd was at least three-deep nearly the entire time. Everyone picked out something about the runners’ outfits — your singlet, the color of your shorts — and shouted words of encouragement. Drunk college kids from every school in the city lined the course and hollered as only drunk college kids can. It’s hard to forget that kind of uproarious positivity. That’s why the Boston Marathon is so special. An optimism normally derided as hokey or fake is open and encouraged there. For many, that marathon is the culmination of an achievement that took years to build to, which contributed to why last year’s bombing at the finish line that injured at least 260 and killed three was so vile. Lives were ended and shattered, and it felt like the two suspected bombers had totally marred the positivity on which the Boston Marathon thrives. During that 2009 race, it was amazing that there could be such a raucous party for a running event, and it wasn’t until years later that I realized the crowd knew something I didn’t: Completing a marathon is worth celebrating. People start running for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes, each step provides a modicum of control in an otherwise hectic life. Other times, it’s the easiest way a person knows to lose weight. Maybe it’s just simply that for as long as someone is running, he’s removed from his phone and email. But every catalyst is for the good of that individual. Not everyone who runs likes doing so, but there’s always some sort of satisfaction there. That kind of inherent positivity has a way of building on itself. If a person feels good after one run, there’s a good chance he’ll lace up again and again until he’s running road races filled with people who are there for the same reason: because running provides some sort of solace, because it gives them goals and a means to accomplish them. Participants in a cross-country charity relay that began in March in California cross the finish line of the Boston Marathon in Boston, Sunday, April 13, 2014. Image: Michael Dwyer/AP Images/Associated Press That understanding is like an energy at the Boston Marathon that washes from shouting spectators onto runners and flows among competitors. It’s almost like a party rather than a race. Getting to Boston was the hard part and, for many, that marathon is like a long victory lap. The Boston Marathon is the culmination of thousands of runners’ personal goals. Watching tens of thousands of dreams come true within the span of a few hours is nothing […]
