Tension was high Monday night as New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg addressed Hurricane Sandy and its approach into the East Coast. For most viewers, though, it wasn’t the mayor’s speech that was most captivating — it was his sign language interpreter. The woman, later identified as Lydia Callis, was an instant hit across the web for her dramatic expressions and theatrical gestures during the speech. A flurry of tweets and a GIF-filled Tumblr quickly went viral as a result of the now pseudo-infamous interpretation. At first, Callis was mistakenly attributed as Lydia “Calas” — a Twitter handle and Tumblr page went up with the incorrect spelling — but a correction was soon brought public. Viewers across social media applauded her not only for her outstanding interpretations, but for giving everyone a reason to smile during a grim, stressful time. Hurricane Sandy will go down as one of the most expensive natural disasters in U.S. history, with estimates close to $20 billion. Here’s a bit of what the Twitterverse had to say: My mother-in-law, who is an ASL interpreter says @mikebloomberg‘s signer Lydia Callis is “amazing” and “crystral clear”. Animation helps. — Daniel Bentley (@DJBentley) October 31, 2012 No making fun of Bloomberg’s sign-language translator. Seriously. Only love. She’s doing her job both very well, and with STYLE. — Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) October 29, 2012 I really want Lydia Callis (Bloomberg’s sign language interpreter) next to Charles Barkley on Inside the NBA. Can someone make this happen? — Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) October 31, 2012 Shush, everyone, Lydia Callis is signing. (Also, that Bloomberg guy is talking.) twitter.com/ditzkoff/statu… — Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) October 30, 2012 Callis even passed the ultimate threshold for solidified Internet fame by getting a parody video dedicated to her shared on YouTube. Watch the video up top and try not to grin, at least a little bit. Did you see Callis in action? Tell us what you thought. More Coverage of Hurricane Sandy The Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Breezy Point, Queens “Destruction after fire in Breezy Point, Queens.” Via Official New York City Fire Department Breezy Point, Queens “Destruction after fire in Breezy Point, Queens.”Via Official New York City Fire Department Guantanamo Bay, Cuba “Damage being repaired on the roof of the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Arts and Crafts Center after Hurricane Sandy made landfall.” Via Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs/Sgt. Brett Perkins North Carolina Via North Carolina Department of Public Transportation Manhattan “No traffic on the FDR today. This was all under water the night before. It’s amazing how a storm like Sandy can completely shut down an entire city.” Via WanderingtheWorld South Ferry Station, Manhattan A submerged escalator at the South Ferry subway station in Lower Manhattan. Via MTA East Village, Manhattan People bail water from a basement of an East Village business. Via Brennan Cavanaugh West Village, Manhattan “Bleeker Street Pizza: OPEN- The electricity was still out, but they were making pizza anyway, with the help of their gas-fired oven and a few spelunker head […]
It’s about time Conan did something with that hair. While prepping for a special appearance on his show from the cast of Orange is the New Black, Conan O’Brien got a special beauty consultation from Laverne Cox, who plays sassy hair stylist Sophia Burset on the Netflix show. Among Cox’s tips to Coco were to get a new dye job and ditch the Bozo the Clown look. Harsh. Conan also featured other members of the cast on different segments of his show, including how to make crazy eyes with Uzo Aduba and Orange is the New Black alternative credits. When it comes to hair color, it seems, orange is not the new black. BONUS: 9 ‘Orange Is the New Black’ Actresses In and Out of Character Orange is the New Black Characters IRL 1. Emma Myles – Leanne Taylor Image: Mashable Composite, Getty Images, Theo Wargo, Netflix 2. Dascha Polanc – Dayanara Diaz Image: Mashable Composite, Getty Images, J Carter Rinaldi, Netflix 3. Madeline Brewer – Tricia Miller Image: Mashable Composite, Getty Images, Rob Kim / Stringer, Netflix 4. Natasha Lyonne – Nicky Nichols Image: Mashable Composite, Getty Images, Brad Barket, Stringer, Netflix 5. Uzo Aduba – Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren Image: Mashable Composite, Jonathan Leibson/Stringer, Netflix 6. Taryn Manning – Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett Image: Mashable Composite, Getty Images, J Carter Rinaldi, Netflix 7. Laura Prepon – Alex Vause Image: Mashable Composite, Getty Images, Desiree Navarro, Netflix 8. Taylor Schilling – Piper Chapman Image: Mashable Composite, Joel Ryan/Invision/AP,Netflix 9. Danielle Brooks – Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson Image: Mashable Composite, Getty Images, Mike Marsland, Netflix Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/08/05/laverne-cox-conan/
Stop wearing fedoras to your VC pitch meetings, startup founders. When investor money and tech blog mentions rain down, startups can make silly mistakes, like blowing all their cash on a mechanical dinosaur. The cast of HBO’s Silicon Valley came to SXSWi, the mecca of startups, to deliver on-point advice for not being a entrepreneurial idiot. Listen to these guys — they play startup types on TV. Silicon Valley premieres April 6 on HBO. BONUS: What Is Bitcoin and How Does It Work? Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/04/04/startup-mistakes-silicon-valley/
This mom-duck is not going to win any Parent of the Year awards. But, hey — all’s well that ends well, right? The video above hit YouTube Thursday and began making its way around the social web on Friday, although other version have been floating around for a couple weeks. And, yes, the ducklings all make it. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/09/07/ducklings-cross-highway/
A collective gasp rang across Twilight superfandom-ville Wednesday after news broke of Kristen Stewart’s indiscretions with Snow White and the Huntsman director, Rupert Sanders. Fans stumbled into crisis mode when Stewart released a public apology, specifically to boyfriend and Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson. Amongst the hardest hit in this real life Twilight saga was the Team Edward YouTubers who uploaded their tear-filled feelings about the scandal. YouTube pseudo-celeb and frequent Twilight reaction video poster NuttyMadam shared her peeved feelings on the sitch. The video title pretty much sums it up (though you should totally still watch): “HOW COULD YOU DO THIS KRISTEN?!” 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. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/07/25/kristen-stewart-cheating-reaction-video/
10 Epic Trick Shot Stunts on YouTube 1. Bow and Arrow Trick Shots This dude is awesome. 2. Billy’s Balls 2 Who knew you could have so much fun with a ping pong ball? 3. Hey, Pass Me A Beer! This recent viral hit elevates the simple act of passing a beer to Olympic levels. 4. Mini Golf Trick Shots Fact: You have never seen mini golf played like this. 5. Trick Shot Basketball – Dude Perfect – Summer Camp Edition The Dude Perfect crew is master of the basketball trick shot. 6. Vinyl Throw: MusicBunk This viral marketing stunt is brilliantly done. 7. Waboba Trick Shots (Part 1) The How Ridiculous guys show off their Waboba skills in fine style. 8. Ice Cold Bowling Trick Shots The cold weather just adds to the cool in this fun video. 9. Frisbee Trick Shots – Brodie Smith Brodie Smith sure can throw a mean Frisbee. 10. Epic Trick Shots – The Football Edition These cute kids are the future of the trick shot video genre. BONUS: Guys Backflip Into Jeans Finally, we’re adding this viral hit to our list. Though there’s technically no ball sport action, it has all the elements of a trick shot classic. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/07/14/best-trick-shot-videos/
What happens when high school theater kids grow up and get hooked on the addictive street drug known as the interwebz? Answer: YouTube videos like this one. “Tumblr: The Musical” turns the art of Tumbln’ into a catchy tune, complete Internet meme references, web culture jokes and a cameo from Hipster Ariel. 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. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/07/27/tumblr-the-musical-video/
Do you love the ’80s? Good news: RoboCop is coming back. But the ’80s didn’t have viral videos to help market new flicks. That’s why, this time around, the sci-fi film — slated for release in the summer of 2013 — is getting the hype ball rolling early with a fictitious website that recently launched for the evil OmniCorp company. The video above lives over on that site, but the YouTube version above has already racked up more than 50,000 views since Saturday. Will you go see the new RoboCop? Let us know in the comments. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/07/08/robocop-viral-trailer/
If there’s one takeaway from Verizon’s newest phone ad, it’s probably that Edward Norton needs to do more karaoke. The actor stars in the Droid Maxx commercial that is a mini-movie about Norton’s adventure-packed 48 hours. He sings karaoke, meets a girl, crashes a plane and almost dies at the hands of a really creepy dude. But thanks to his trusty phone, he remains unscathed — unless you count waking up in a morgue. The commercial ends with the tagline “Whatever you do in 48 hours, Droid does,” referencing the phone’s impressive battery life. The ad also showcases Google’s hands-free commands in several scenes, most notably when Norton is tied up and hanging upside (a situation Verizon probably assumed we could all relate to?) The spot aired on television Dec. 5, but was posted to YouTube a week prior. The video already has more than 9 million hits. Verizon’s recruitment of A-lister Norton comes after Robert Downey Jr. starred in a similarly odd ad for the HTC One over the summer. That campaign didn’t seem to do much for HTC’s sales. Now only one question remains: Could the Droid Maxx survive a fight club? BONUS: The Most-Shared Ads of 2013 The Most-Shared Ads of 2013 1. Dove “Real Beauty Sketches” 4.24 million shares Dove uses a clever method to make women confront misconceptions about their appearance and the result prompts some very emotional reactions. Video: YouTube, doveunitedstates 2. Geico “Hump Day” 4.03 million This ad, featuring an excitable camel, gets a spike in views every Wednesday. Video: YouTube, GEICO Insurance 3. Evian “Baby & Me” 3.34 million The sequel to the uber-successful “Roller Babies” ad does just fine on its own. Video: YouTube, EvianBabies 4. Kmart “Ship My Pants” 3.05 million A silly, off-color pun goes from mildly amusing to hilarious in 30 seconds. Video: YouTube, Kmart 5. Cornetto “Yalin Keyfi Yolunda, Aşkı Sonund” 2.91 million A Wes Anderson-esque tale of young love from Turkey. Video: YouTube, cornetto turkiye 6. Budweiser “Brotherhood” 2.72 million One of the best-received ads of this year’s Super Bowl features a sentimental trainer raising a Clydesdale. Video: YouTube, NFL TV Super Bowl Ads 7. PepsiMax “Test Drive” 2.69 million OK it was fake, but it was fun: Nascar driver Jeff Gordon goes incognito for a test drive and an actor does a great job pretending to be freaked out. Video: YouTube, Pepsi 8. MGM/Carrie “Telekinetic Coffee Shop Surprise” 2.17 million More fakery, this time in a coffee shop to promote the movie Carrie. Is it me or does everything seem fake about this? Ironically the movie was overtaken by Gravity at the box office. Video: YouTube, CarrieNYC 9. Ram Trucks “Farmer” 1.88 million Another ad that proves that you don’t have to (try to) be funny to be remembered during the Super Bowl. The ad was a rip off of an older one, but this one was much better. Video: YouTube, ram 10. Volvo Trucks “Jean-Claude Van Damme Epic Split” 1.82 million A latecomer, Jean-Claude […]
Wedding season is upon us. For some, that means long, drawn out speeches by people you don’t really know for people you don’t really know. But before you go all Runaway Bride Julia Roberts, take a look at some of the best and funniest speeches that prove how great a wedding toast can be. In the age of making every moment a viral moment, bridesmaids and best men are adding a touch of flair to the tradition. There’s the typical ribbing on the bridal couple, but with a music routine, or a choreographed dance. Sometimes the speech is so casual, it’s haphazardly delivered from an iPhone (“O.K., everyone needs to stop calling my phone..”). To make it through wedding season, we’re all going to need a few laughs. (To keep from crying about our loneliness.) Best Wedding Speeches 1. Video: YouTube, Brian Gell 2. Video: YouTube, Chris Downey 3. Video: YouTube, Teri Kay 4. Video: YouTube, rickyste 5. Video: YouTube, kpfife 6. Video: YouTube, Andrew Gwin 7. Video: YouTube, rennyboy123 8. Video: YouTube, amyhnowak 9. Video: YouTube, Juan Carlos 10. Video: YouTube, Blake Beasley 11. Video: YouTube, bennyekmedia 12. Video: YouTube, madman808state Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/05/05/creative-wedding-speeches/
