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/
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/
Even cats get frisky when they’ve consumed too much cat nip and gin. When Redditor Leicor‘s girlfriend tasked him with the responsibility of petsitting her cat, he decided to have a little fun. Instead of sitting back with a toy mouse and enjoying the monotonous duty of staring at a cat, he created a video depicting the scandalous escapades of the orange kitty. Not only is the video solid entertainment, it’s also a great way to ensure that your significant other will never ask you to catsit or leave town ever again. BONUS: 19 Things You Didn’t Know Cats Could Do Things You Didn’t Know Cats Could Do 1. Jump into your arms. Video: YouTube, Steve Bennett 2. Go fishing. Video: YouTube, MrYabawy 3. Make music with a vacuum hose. Video: YouTube, corkyobra 4. Replace your alarm clock. Video: YouTube, GarrulousCrap 5. See optical illusions. Video: YouTube, rasmusab 6. Fill in for Sonic the Hedgehog. Video: YouTube, Bi Goudi 7. Play fetch. Video: YouTube, Irilya 8. Learn tricks like a dog. Video: YouTube, TheBSRecord 9. Fetch the ice cream. Video: YouTube, alllettersnonumbers 10. Open the window. Video: YouTube, Keith Lynch 11. Clean up after themselves. Video: YouTube, Michael Thompson 12. Play iPad games. Video: YouTube, ThirstForEverything 13. Collect the mail for you. Video: YouTube, headsonfire 14. Call birds. Video: YouTube, LeeAnne Long 15. Answer the phone. Video: YouTube, marciorcod 16. Communicate with sign language. Video: YouTube, Marcztr 17. Walk like Frankenstein’s monster. Video: YouTube, teakdc 18. Meow underwater. Video: YouTube, SchneiderYuri 19. Be a complete jerk. (But you probably already knew that.) Video: YouTube, krmrmlp Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/05/07/drunk-cat/
We’ve had a lot of interesting moments at Mashable in the past year — and luckily, we also happened to be filming many of them. In 2012, we followed an Internet celebrity singing with a turkey leg, talked to folks who lined up for the iPhone 5 for a week, and a tracked down a filmmaker who did documentaries for the Arab Spring. We also peered into Martha Stewart’s bag and survived a takeover attempt from Conan O’Brien. 1. Conan O’Brien Buys Mashable, Ousts Pete Cashmore as CEO In an April Fools’ Day prank, TeamCoco and Mashable got together to create a zany story line that includes Conan buying the site and ousting founder and CEO Pete Cashmore. The Conan O’Brien takeover launched at midnight on April 1 in a 24-hour story arc that shows O’Brien’s attempts to make paper-based tweeting happen. 2. Mashable Goes ‘Behind the Launch’ With New Documentary Series We follow the journey of Vungle, an in-app advertising startup, as they court investors, hire new employees, and finally launch their company. Catch up on all fourteen episodes here. 3. How to Learn a Language on YouTube Reporter Neha Prakash embarks on an attempt to learn Russian from YouTube tutorials, which culminates in a trip to a Russian restaurant as she tries to order from the fluent waitress. Her favorite word? Cпасибо, which means “thank you.” 4. What’s in Martha Stewart’s Tech Bag? America’s pioneering DIY expert has three iPads. What else does she carry in her seemingly endless bag of gadgets? 5. Watch Calexico Play Two Songs Live At Mashable Joey Burns and John Convertino of Calexico fill Mashable HQ with the distinctive sound of the American southwest. They talk about their new album, Algiers, being a musician in the digital era, and sticking to an analog recording experience. 6. What Does Siri Know About the iPhone 5? Tech editor Pete Pachal grills Siri for inside information about the phone, only to get coy replies. 7. Who Lined Up For the iPhone 5? Meet the colorful characters who camped out at the Apple flagship store for a week. 8. iPhone 5 Line: Unnecessary But Fun We do an early morning stakeout at the Apple Store right before it opens its doors. 9. This Is What Happens When Comic Con Attendees Try to Impersonate Bane At the New York Comic Con, we asked everyone from Wolverine to Batman himself to demonstrate their finest Bane super-villain vocal talents, with mixed results. 10. This Man Fights in and Films the Last Gasps of the Arab Spring Activist and filmmaker Matthew VanDyke spent years traversing North Africa and the Middle East by motorcycle, befriending Libyans and other travelers along the way. We talk to him about his work in this two-part series. 11. Nicole Westbrook Talks Turkey With New Yorkers Watch 12-year-old YouTube viral video star Nicole Westbrook as she interviews people on the street with a turkey leg. You can’t make this stuff up. 12. Internet Feline Luminary Talks Big […]
Improv Everywhere’s MP3 experiment is a public participatory event that’s a mix of scavenger hunt and flash mob. Everyone downloads an original MP3, then meets at a specific location and acts casual until it’s time to push play — followed by 45 minutes of syncronized, hilarious antics that leave unsuspecting visitors simultaneously confused and entertained. This year, there were 4,000 participants, 300 of whom didn’t even make it to the meeting place — Governor’s Island in New York City — because too many people were trying to get there. Instead, they followed instructions in Battery Park. Watch what happens when two armies of thousands go head-to-head in the most epic water gun fight. Instagram Coverage of the MP3 Experiment 1. Diehard Participants People stuck in long lines didn’t let location keep them from participating — many followed instructions from the ferry. Image courtesy of VivereNewYork 2. Victory Capes Participants flocked to the parade grounds with white sheets draped over their shoulders. Image courtesy of itschiefy 3. Tower Challenge Small groups were challenged to create the tallest tower using hard, flat objects. Image courtesy of justsamuelk 4. Improv Everywhere App Improv Everywhere used its free iOS app to help sync mobile devices to the exact second. Image courtesy of qympanzer 5. Marching to Battle Donning shower caps, both teams took 50 paces toward each other, with water guns held high in the air. Image courtesy of leigh1029 6. Drone Camera It’s a bird, it’s a plane…it’s a hexacopter drone used to capture footage from the air. 7. Founder Charlie Todd Improv Everywhere founder Charlie Todd with wife and senior IE member Cody Lindquist. Image courtesy of Cody Lindquist 8. Ferry The ferry leaving Governors Island swarmed with people. Image courtesy of jqj3 Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/07/30/water-guns/
Wait a minute, what’s Samwise Gamgee doing talking to a bunch of NFL rookies? Actually, that’s Rudy Ruettiger — or Sean Astin, the actor who played both the underdog Notre Dame football player immortalized in the 1993 film Rudy, as well as Frodo Baggins’ erstwhile sidekick. Astin is part of a Pepsi Max digital marketing campaign, in which he employs his football expertise (or lack thereof) to engage in some gridiron banter with the NFL’s latest crop of talent. The back-and-forth is good for a few chuckles, so check it out in the video above. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/09/12/rudy-nfl-rookies/
Claire Danes finally has something legitimate to cry about — all the terrorists have turned into zombies. Barely Political imagines a world where Homeland and The Walking Dead come together, so that the CIA can search for the most dangerous undead man alive: Abu Nu Zombie. Of course, Rick Grimes is too busy keeping his group alive in a prison cell to really care about terrorists. And Carrie is too busy believing that Brody isn’t a zombie to get anything done. Good thing Mandy Patinkin is around to keep the peace. If you thought these shows were edge-of-your-seat thrillers alone, just imagine the suspense when they team up and start eating each other’s flesh. BONUS: Zombies Invade Classic Movies Classic Movies Remade Zombie Style The Corpse Wars Image courtesy of Matt Busch and Neatoshop The Lord of the Rotten Image courtesy of Matt Busch and Neatoshop Deadward Scissorhands Image courtesy of Matt Busch and Neatoshop Alice from Underland Image courtesy of Matt Busch and Neatoshop Wrecks and the City Image courtesy of Matt Busch and Neatoshop E.T. Image courtesy of Matt Busch and Neatoshop Fight of the Living Dead Club Image courtesy of Matt Busch and Neatoshop The Walking Dead of Oz Image courtesy of Matt Busch and Neatoshop Read more: http://mashable.com/2013/03/18/homeland-walking-dead/
The Gregory Brothers have struck again — this time, creating a musical version of what Mitt Romney may have really been thinking during his concession speech on election night. This version of the Republican candiate isn’t disappointed about his loss to Barack Obama at all. Instead, he’s quite jovial. Find out why by pushing play and bopping your head to the toe-tapping tune. The Gregory Brothers, the duo behind “Songify the News” and the “Bed Intruder Song,” teamed up with Maker Studios to add a melody to this year’s presidential campaign. The collaboration resulted in clever song versions of every debate of the 2012 election. Which songified political moment was your favorite? Sing it in the comments below. Auto-Tune The Debates First Presidential Debate Date: October 3, 2012Topic: Domestic policy Location: University of Denver in Denver, ColoradoParticipants: President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt RomneyModerator: Jim Lehrer (Host of NewsHour on PBS) VP Debate Date: October 16, 2012Topic: Foreign and domestic policy Location: Centre College in Danville, KentuckyParticipants: Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul RyanModerator: Martha Raddatz (ABC News Chief Foreign Correspondent) 2nd Presidential Debate Date: October 22, 2012Topic: Town meeting format including foreign and domestic policyLocation: Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York Participants: President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt RomneyModerator: Candy Crowley (CNN Chief Political Correspondent) 3rd Presidential Debate Date: October 22, 2012Topic: Foreign policyLocation: Lynn University in Boca Raton, FloridaParticipants: President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt RomneyModerator: Bob Schieffer (Host of Face the Nation on CBS) Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/11/07/romney-concession-speech-song/
Writing a song is easy when you have Jennifer Lawrence as your muse. Brett Domino, the alter ego of musician and comedian Rob J. Madin, has the secrets to writing the number one hit that has been locked in your brain. His own musical masterpiece, “You Look Sexy When You Do That,” is inspired by Jennifer Lawrence and sounds a bit like a Jason Derulo (Jason Derulo) song. Some of Domino’s ingenious tricks include Googling lyric ideas and playing an instrument that you have no idea how play because “you don’t want it to sound too good.” It turns out, being a multi-platinum pop sensation isn’t as hard as all those Grammy Award-winning musicians make it out to be. BONUS: 20 Songs Turning 20 in 2014 20 Songs Turning 20 in 2014 1. “Buddy Holly” by Weezer Video: YouTube, WeezerVEVO 2. “I Swear” by All 4 One Video: YouTube, VIETNAMESEPORKROLLS 3. “Gin & Juice” by Snoop Doggy Dogg Video: YouTube, hemoglobian 4. “Crazy” by Aerosmith Video: YouTube, AerosmithVEVO 5. “Come Out and Play” by The Offspring Video: YouTube, EpitaphRecords 6. “I Wanna Be Down” by Brandy Video: YouTube, Atlantic Records 7. “All I Wanna Do” by Sheryl Crow Video: YouTube, Matias 8. “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men Video: YouTube, BoyzIIMenVEVO 9. “Sabotage” by Beastie Boys Video: YouTube, turboEF 10. “Back & Forth” by Aaliyah Video: YouTube, Aaliyah Shakur 11. “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” by Elton John Video: YouTube, WaItDisneyWorId 12. “Zombie” by The Cranberries Video: YouTube, TheCranberriesVEVO 13. “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden Video: YouTube, SoundgardenVEVO 14. “Basket Case” by Green Day Video: YouTube, greenday 15. “Turn the Beat Around” by Gloria Estefan Video: YouTube, GloriaEstefanVEVO 16. “Stay (I Missed You)” by Lisa Loeb Video: YouTube, LLOnline 17. “I’ll Stand By You” by The Pretenders Video: YouTube, Javipy3 18. “Come to My Window” by Melissa Etheridge Video: YouTube, melissaetheridge1988 19. “Hold My Hand” by Hootie and the Blowfish Video: YouTube, Atlantic Records 20. “Cotton Eye Joe” by Rednex Video: YouTube, RednexVEVO Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/06/30/how-to-write-a-pop-song/
Dogs usually love beef jerky, but this is not beef jerky. When presented with low-fat lamb jerky, this five-month-old Labrador Retriever not only expresses his displeasure, but we’re detecting a bit of fear. In the video’s YouTube description, his owner says, “This is strange and yet hilarious, because this is a dog who will eat anything and pretty much everything.” But he wants to make it clear that this YouTube video isn’t showing him abusing the young dog: “I will have you know that this in no way counts as abuse. Once I finished filming, he went back to playing with his toys. He is a much loved and much spoiled pup. :)” But just look at the sad expression on the dog’s face. Sure, a lot of that is the natural folds of the breed’s skin, but from someone who has had undesired foods pushed into his face too many times, I have to feel sorry for the little guy. What do you think? Is this any way to treat a dog? Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/08/11/dog-is-terrified/
