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 Frozen Michigan lighthouse is straight out of Narnia
It's been really, really cold in some parts of the country this week (don't say we didn't warn you) but one side effect has been some incredible images like this lighthouse in St. Joseph, Michigan, along the southwest shores of Lake Michigan. Another terrific video, captured by photographer Joshua Nowicki gives you an even closer look at the frozen castle that looks straight out of a fairy tale. Temperatures remained in the teens on Sunday in the area with wind chills that made it feel like several degrees below zero, so you might want to enjoy these images from warm confines of your home instead of venturing outside for an up-close look. Read more... More about Lake Michigan, Polar Vortex, Watercooler, and Travel Leisure Read More »In the wake of terrible violence, children's book authors raise money for Aleppo
There is no simple children's story that can explain away this terror. But as the violence continues, a group of children's and young adult authors are hoping to do what they can to help those suffering in the Syrian city of Aleppo by starting a social media campaign to raise money. Fed up with the violence, authors Dana Alison Levy and Rachael Allen decided they couldn't sit back and do nothing while people were killed in Aleppo. So the pair decided to start a hashtag, #KidlitForAleppo, where authors would offer prizes on Sunday if fans sent them a screenshot that proved they donated to an organization like the White Helmets, Doctors Without Borders and the International Rescue Committee. Read more... More about Kidlitforaleppo, Syrian Civil War, Aleppo, Syria, and World Read More »It was Hoth-level cold for the NFL in Kansas City and Chicago
As the polar vortex brought frigid conditions down into the middle of America, so, too, did it bring extremely cold temperatures to a pair of NFL games that had players and fans alike bundled up. In Kansas City, Missouri, where the Chiefs were hosting the Tennessee Titans, the mercury dipped to a meager 1 degree Fahrenheit at kickoff with a -9-degree wind chill. That is reportedly a record for the coldest regular season Chiefs home game since records were kept.
LA County email hack exposes data of 750,000 people
Los Angeles County appears to be the latest victim of a wide-reaching email hack. Around 756,000 people who had business with county departments may have had their personal information or confidential health data exposed through the breach, officials said. The L.A. County District Attorney has filed criminal charges against a Nigerian national accused of launching the phishing attack on county employees, the D.A.'s office said Dec. 16. Kelvin Onaghinor faces nine counts, including identify theft and unauthorized computer access, although he hasn't yet been arrested. Officials said they aren't even sure if he is on U.S. soil. Read more... More about Cyber Attacks, Cyber Crimes, Yahoo Mail, Yahoo Hack, and John Podesta Read More »Kelly Clarkson helped a super fan get engaged at her concert
At at VIP event for Kelly Clarkson's Miracle on Broadway charity concert on Friday, the songstress helped a lucky fan propose to her girlfriend of two years. Clarkson invited Kiana Clark to the stage, along with Clark's girlfriend Amanda. A Clarkson fan for many years, Clark spoke about the 13 years she spent following the singer's tour stops. "I never really had a place to call home until I met Amanda," she said. "And there is no better way to propose than by doing so with with help of Ms. Clarkson here." Spoiler: She said yes. [H/T: Perez Hilton] Before the Kardashians, Zsa Zsa Gabor was the ultimate socialite
Before the world was keeping up with the Kardashians, they were captivated by Zsa Zsa Gabor, whose death was announced on Sunday. She was 99. Born in Hungary, she set the stage for socialites like Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton by being more famous for her glamorous lifestyle than her acting career. (She even married Conrad Hilton, who founded the Hilton Hotel chain — the second of the nine husbands she would have over the course of her life.) She was known for calling everyone "Daaarling" and her witty quips about love and sex. "I want a man who’s kind and understanding," she once said. "Is that too much to ask of a millionaire?" Read more... More about Kardashian, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and Entertainment Read More »Merry Christmas, from hell: Santa army fights penguin empire in epic virtual war
We know that Santa Claus is a magical figure, but apparently when it comes to nature, he is powerless. At least that's the case in this epic virtual battle for Christmas supremacy pitting a clone army of 4,000 Santas against the collected might 11,000 penguins. And yes, there are forlorn "ho, ho, ho's," sounds of murderous bird squawking and even blood. Rivers. Of. Blood. The dark take on Christmas is actually a demo from a new game called Epic Battle Simulator that lets you take masses of one kind of character and have that group wage war against another. In an earlier demo, the developer showed a horde of chickens versus the Roman empire as well as that old classic of zombies versus humans. Read more... More about Christmas, Gaming, Santa, Santa Claus, and Entertainment Read More »10 realistic holiday traditions to start with your family this year
Many families — maybe even yours — honor holiday traditions that have spanned generations. You know, like choosing a yearly Christmas tree ornament, or pulling apart that turkey wishbone with Aunt Patricia. In fact, festive traditions are so fun that it's tempting to start a few more this year. But in 2016, a year already fraught with holiday political arguments and tense family dinners, starting a new tradition might be a little difficult. But it's not impossible! Try these 2016-appropriate traditions and you and yours will be soaked in warm holiday spirit in no time. Read more... 1. Enjoy the world's natural beauty by taking the scenic route to Grandma's.More about Funny, Humor, Holidays 2016, and Watercooler Read More »Highly venomous snake makes like tinsel and chills on a Christmas tree
While the holidays are often accompanied by snowmen imagery and freezing weather, in Australia, you'll just experience searing heat. And snakes. This particular tiger snake was found chillin' on a Christmas tree belonging to a woman in Melbourne, on Sunday morning. While tiger snakes are known for being shy, it's also highly venomous. "They're probably in the top 10 most toxic animals on the planet. But they're not dangerous unless you poke it with a stick or grab it by the tail, or try to kill it," Barry Goldsmith, from Snake Catcher Victoria, told Mashable. Read more... More about Tiger Snake, Animals, Christmas Tree, Christmas, and Snake Read More »These photos are your holiday travel nightmare come to life
Christmas is just a week away, so we're now officially near the height of holiday travel season, which is full of hiccups and snarls. Travel veterans won't flinch, but new photos out of Denver International Airport on Sunday might make anyone's heart skip a beat, especially if they're worried about making an upcoming flight. Winter weather resulted in hundreds of canceled flights on Frontier Airlines and a nightmare mess of hundreds of suitcases, forcing passengers to search through the backlog of luggage to find their bags, like a needle in a Samsonite haystack. Read more... More about Airports, Travel, Holiday Travel, Flight Delays, and Denver Airport Read More »Fans go wild for kid on JumboTron; boo relentlessly when he isn't
The roving fan cameras at sports games have brought the world so much joy, and Saturday night was no different. A little kid stole the spotlight on the JumboTron display, during a game between ice hockey teams the Detroit Red Wings and the Anaheim Ducks in the U.S. 2-year-old Mason, as identified by SB Nation, received rapturous cheers from the crowd every time he appeared on screen. And when the camera switched to another group of fans, there was only an unforgiving booing from the stadium. At least, until little Mason appeared back on screen, to rapturous applause. Read more... More about Jumbotron, Red Wings, Videos, Video, and Fan Read More »Sobering political statements disguised as 'Aussie Christmas Carol'
If you've ever met an Australian, you'll know that they love talking about how different and special they are because they have nice weather during Christmas. Opposite seasons — who knew?! But unlike the wealth of "Aussie Christmas carols" that came before it (yes, they're a thing), the latest carol from Down Under turns the "holidays in hot weather" cliché on its head. The subversive YouTubers over at Aunty Donna have written a protest song disguised as a carol. One minute they're singing about wearing shorts and thongs (flip flops to you) on Christmas Day. The next minute they're sharing horrifying facts about Australia that are too often pushed out of public discourse. Read more... More about Politics, Christmas, Australia, Watercooler, and Youtube Read More »Rescued pigs frolic like puppies towards their human when called
When language fails, we will always have videos of animals being cute. And an animal sanctuary in Australia may just have the holy grail of animal #content. The Where Pigs Fly Farm Sanctuary is a charity-run sanctuary in the Hunter Valley that acts as a home to farm animals in need of a little TLC and a lot of freedom to roam. Something easily achievable on the 100 acre property. Their adopted farm animals frolic in vast paddocks, free to nuzzle, dig and prance as their little hearts desire. Edna was rescued from a backyard in Sydney. People can 'sponsor' the animals via their website. Image: wherepigsfly.org Read more... Jimmy Fallon plays virtual reality Pictionary using the HTC Vive
Conan O'Brien figured out how to make VR work on late night TV and now Jimmy Fallon is taking a shot at it, too. Fallon set up a massive video display connected to the HTC Vive VR headset to play what he calls "Virtual Reality Pictionary" with guests Michael Che (Saturday Night Live) and Andrew Rannells (HBO's Girls). Using the VR drawing app Tilt Brush, the game works pretty well, and delivers a few funny moments, but it's also an amazingly low-tech way to show off the highest level VR system available (next to the Oculus Rift) to the public today. Read more... More about Michael Che, Htc Vive, Virtual Reality, Vr, and Jimmy Fallon Read More »Cats on Instagram wish you a meowy Christmas and a happy mew year
One of the saving graces of the holiday season and all the stress that comes with it, are those certain pet owners with iron wills and a love of costumes. #ChristmasCatsOfInstagram is a hashtag that exists — for no other purpose than our pure enjoyment. And it's life changing — just see for yourself. There's really nothing like a disgruntled cat dressed as a Christmas elf to brighten one's spirits. Two tails are better than oneThe holidays are better when shared. Though to be fair, the joy of sharing is highly dependent on the company with whom one find themselves. Good thing for these cat duos, they go together like a daggy knitted sweater and holiday cheer. Read more... More about Photos, Pets, Cat Photos, Cute Animals, and Instagram Read More »Honda uses Oculus Rift to bring holiday VR light show to hospitalized children
If you're lucky enough to be healthy and with family this holiday season, you'll appreciate a recent tech-powered effort Honda undertook to bring the magic of Christmas to children unable to leave a hospital in Orange County, California. Working in conjunction with the Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC Children's), the auto company produced a stunning virtual reality holiday light display that immersed the children in the sights they weren't able to see outside of the hospital. Using Oculus Rift headsets donated by Microsoft, you can see the amazement wash over the children as they experience the elaborate VR display called "Candy Cane Lane" from the seat of a moving virtual sleigh. Read more... More about Design, Christmas, Holidays, Microsoft, and Virtual Reality Read More »Twitter has a field day noting the glaring plot holes in 'Home Alone'
Love it or hate it, the viewing of Home Alone on TV during December is a universal must. No matter where you stand on the question of whether the 1990 classic is a totally rubbish movie or not, we can all agree that annual discussions of its free-to-air broadcast brings people together, like a kind of annoying holiday glue. SEE ALSO: Celebrate 25 years of 'Home Alone,' the story of a young psychopath and murderer-in-training Yard stick for viewing habits, Twitter is here to shed light on what the masses really think of Home Alone, and especially, its many'a plot hole. There's no denying the John Hughes-scripted movie is a masterpiece when it comes to memorable quotes such as "Fuller! Go easy on the Pepsi!," "Put it in your purse" and "Buzz's girlfriend, woof!," which is pretty mean, really. Read more... More about Twitter, Macaulay Culkin, Holidays, Movies, and Home Alone Read More »'My Horse Prince' is the bizarre dating simulator everyone's talking about
The greatest love stories are oft met with obstacles. No greater odds have been stacked against a couple than the star-crossed lovers in the new game My Horse Prince: The story of a woman (you, the player) and her human-faced horse. The choose-your-own-adventure style app comes from Japanese developers Usaya and follows a simple dating simulator framework, tried and tested by many successful games before it. Content-wise however, it pushes a few fantastical boundaries, raising the question whether or not you should fall in love with your pet horse who also has a human face. Read more... More about Japan, Horse, Dating, Game, and App Read More »Mark Cuban publicly asks Trump to become the robotics president
One of the most outspoken critics of President-elect Donald Trump leading up to the election was Mark Cuban, tech mogul, owner of the NBA's Mavericks and Shark Tank co-host. Now Cuban has apparently decided to move past his previous, and at times quite harsh, critiques of Trump to instead implore him make the U.S. the world leader in robotics. "We need to help develop domestic companies much like we did the electric car and wind and solar industries," wrote Cuban in a blog post on Sunday night. "Even if it means trying to help pick winners. We have to win the robotics race. We are not even close right now." Read more... More about Infrastructure, Robotics, Donald Trump, Mark Cuban, and Tech Read More »7 reasons why 2016 was a great year for bizarre robbery fails
Robbers like Robin Hood, Jesse James and Australia's Ned Kelly are folklore heroes thanks to their depictions in pop culture. But in 2016, brazen thieves have proven to be little more than bumbling idiots. They've had to face shopkeepers ignoring their demands for money, they been forced to retreat after having bags of candy thrown them, and they've had shirtless dudes thwarts their devious plans. But hey, at least no one got hurt. In case you missed them, here are the most bizarre foiled robberies of the year. Read more... More about Australia, Video, Videos, Fail, and Fails Read More »Veteran soldier becomes the face of demonetization woes in India
India has been severely hit by a currency crunch following the government’s ban on high-value notes that sucked in about 86% of the cash in circulation. Since then, banks have been a sorry sight with serpentine queues at counters and much restless chaos among people. One such bank branch situated in a colony in Gurgaon, close to the national capital, saw a 78-year-old army veteran break down after losing his spot in the queue. Hindustan Times published a compelling photo of him — frail, weary and in despair — that struck a chord with most Indians facing a similar plight for over a month. The photo captioned ‘They Said Only the Rich Will Cry” went viral on social media. Read more... More about Currency, Bank, Banks, World, and India Read More »Acer is done selling smartphones in the world's fastest growing market
Even as smartphone brands are charting plans to aggressively expand their businesses in India, Acer is calling it quits — for now, at least. The Taiwanese company is putting its insignificant mobile business aside to focus on its growing laptops and other hardware businesses in India, it said over the weekend. The move comes as India, the world's fastest growing smartphone market, continues to see new entrants arrive in the country. Acer entered the Indian market in 1999 with its PC lineup and piloted the mobile business six years ago. Amid Chinese companies aggressively arriving and expanding in India in the recent years, Acer refuelled its attention on smartphones last year. But the company’s push was not enough for Acer’s smartphones to take off in the country, an executive said. Read more... More about Motorola, Lenovo, Xiaomi, India, and Business Read More »This driverless bus is about to roll out in Singapore
By the first quarter of 2017, this driverless shuttle bus will begin service in Singapore. The autonomous vehicle can hold 15 passengers, and will ferry them between the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) campus and the CleanTech eco-business park roughly 1.5 km (0.93 miles) away. Image: nanyang technological university/facebook NTU posted a video on Facebook showcasing the new air-conditioned bus, and said it's set to roll out by next semester. Image: nanyang technological university/facebook Opening the doors Image: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY/FACEBOOK Read more... Nicole Kidman's early modelling photos are spectacularly awkward
Looking at photos of yourself as a baby can be sort of cute and endearing, but nobody likes looking at photos of themselves as a teenager. Not even Hollywood actors are immune to this. During an appearance on last Friday's Graham Norton Show, Nicole Kidman's old modelling photos — taken for a 1983 issue of Australia's Dolly magazine, when Kidman was in her mid teens — were a big topic of conversation. The last one is particularly memorable. WhatsApp group administrators not liable for content: Indian court
WhatsApp group administrators can heave a sigh of relief. Following two directives issued in April by two separate state governments that made social media group administrators liable for content circulated by other members of the group, the Delhi High Court has now ruled out any such possibility. Legally India reported that the Court took into account the fact that messages posted in WhatsApp groups did not require the administrator’s prior approval. Hence, holding the admin liable for member-posted content is equivalent to holding the ‘manufacturer of the newsprint’ liable for defamatory statements in the newspaper. Read more... More about Facebook, Whatsapp, India, and Tech Read More »This airline sacrificed a goat on the tarmac before its flight took off
Pakistan International Airlines may have resumed flying operations for its ATR planes, but mere clearance wasn’t apparently sufficient for the company. To ward off 'evil eye', they have reportedly sacrificed a black goat on the tarmac before the plane took off. Staff from the airlines slaughtered a black goat yesterday ahead of the ATR plane taking off for the first time since the recent crash of PK-661 flight. The Civil Aviation Authority had suspended ATR planes and ordered tests to be undertaken to ensure their flight worthiness. Read more... More about Goats, Goat, Airlines, Pakistan, and Watercooler Read More »The 7-year-old Syrian girl Bana Alabed is finally safe
Bana Alabed, the 7-year-old girl whose Twitter account documented her experience of living in besieged Aleppo, has arrived safely outside the city. Photos from a number of journalists and activists showed Bana after the evacuation, which is still taking place on buses or Red Cross ambulances despite multiple delays. The image below shows Bana with Hadi Al-Abdallah, a media activist who has regularly reported from Aleppo:
'Rogue One' star Felicity Jones reacts to a fan's gigantic tattoo
You know you've made it when a random member of the public gets a giant tattoo of your face on his leg. During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Felicity Jones told the story of a Rogue One fan whose calf is now decorated with a colourful portrait of her character Jyn Erso. Her only concern? "I'm just worried about what happens when the hair grows back," Jones said. I've never had a boyfriend at Christmas and I couldn't be happier
LONDON — I don't want a lot for Christmas. There's just one thing I need. In fact, all I want for Christmas is for singleton shaming to be a thing of the past. That, and a bottle of Coco Mademoiselle, of course. If you've ever been single at Christmas, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. You're unfettered and ready to hit up the Yuletide party scene. It's exciting. It's liberating. It's a time to kick back and spend quality time with family and friends. So, why does "single at Christmas" invoke reactions of pity? Read more... More about Uk, Holidays, Christmas, Love, and Single Read More »New 'Twin Peaks' trailer consists of David Lynch eating a donut, and nothing else
Are you excited about the upcoming Twin Peaks reboot? Do you like donuts? Do you like watching someone eating a donut? If the answer to all of these questions is a resounding yes, then there's a slight chance you might enjoy watching the new Twin Peaks trailer. Because yes, the trailer is a short video clip of Lynch, which is reprising his role as FBI Regional Bureau Chief Gordon Cole, eating a donut. Of course, true fans might be able to find some mystery in the short clip. What is Lynch looking at? What's in those filing cabinets in the back? Is that vanilla frosting on that donut? Read more... More about Donut, Trailer, David Lynch, Twin Peaks, and Entertainment Read More »Taking on America's worst fears
I decided to experience the most common phobias in America. What are you afraid of? Read more... More about Mashable Video, Germs, Scary, Snakes, and Claustrophobia Read More »This photo of 'Superman' Henry Cavill holding a tree is baffling the internet
LONDON — The British actor Henry Cavill is a large man who clearly spends time at the gym, but — despite what his on-screen persona might suggest — he does not possess super-human strength. So how on earth is he holding up this large tree with only one hand?
Instagram users didn't know quite what to make of it. Some people were impressed.Image: instagram/henrycavill Read more... Others were confused.More about Uk, Optical Illusion, Instagram, Superman, and Henry Cavill Read More »Little girl sends BBC anxious letter about Big Ben, gets the perfect reply
LONDON — There are few things in Britain more iconic than Big Ben, the giant clock that stands out above London and spends its day cheerfully bonging away the hours. Big Ben has appeared in films and TV series, and — crucially to this story — the sound of its bongs regularly feature on the intro to BBC Radio 4's news bulletins. The problem is, Big Ben needs repairs — and for a few months it's bongs (which are live on Radio 4, not pre-recorded) will be out of action. As a regular Radio 4 listener, eight-year-old Phoebe Hanson was concerned by this. Read more... More about London, Uk, Letter, Funny, and Bbc Read More »This guy just faced America's top 5 fears
I decided to experience the top five phobias of most Americans. What are you so afraid of? The government wants to block your mobile phone signal while you’re driving
Tempted to make a phone call while driving? Well, in the near future you won't even be able to use your phone behind the wheel — at least in Britain. A new technology to block mobile signal for drivers is being considered by the Department of Transport to crack down on motorists who use their phone. Plans for an exploratory meeting with network providers and handset manufacturers in the new year to discuss the technology are being finalised, Mashable understands. An incredibly strong deterrent"We are determined to crack down on mobile phone use at the wheel," a spokesperson for the Department of Transport said in a statement. Read more... More about Cars, Driving, Mobile Phones, and Tech Read More »People queued overnight just to get a taste of this fast food outlet
After toying with the idea of opening a Canadian outlet for a couple of years, Filipino fast food giant Jollibee is finally welcoming diners in Winnipeg. Fans having been standing in line and braving sub-zero temperatures over the weekend for Jollibee's signature fried chicken and sweet spaghetti. The weather on opening day, just before the weekend, dipped down to -25 C (-13 F) — but that didn't deter some hungry fans from waiting six hours to get in the door.
Microsoft is using machine learning to help fight blindness
Though robots and artificial intelligence may not replace our doctors entirely in the foreseeable future, they are already starting to make a difference. Microsoft is now using machine learning and artificial intelligence to help doctors in India to diagnoze and treat eye diseases. Earlier this year, Microsoft began working with the not-for-profit LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) in India to have its Azure machine learning and Power BI services analyze patterns among cases and predict the surgical outcome of eye surgery patients. Read more... More about India, Artificial Intelligence, Ai, Machine Learning, and Microsoft Read More »The Queen got an official portrait because her birthday celebrations were ending
LONDON — For many of us, the end of our birthday celebrations is heralded the moment the party ends and we have to clean up and deal with the inevitable champagne-induced hangover. But, if you're Queen Elizabeth II, you don't have to worry about any of that. Except, perhaps, for the hangover. No, the Queen instead got a special portrait with her son Prince Charles to signal the end of her 90th birthday festivities.
Paypal accuses India's largest mobile wallet company of copying its logo
Global payments company Paypal has filed a copyright infringement notice against Indian mobile wallet provider Paytm citing similarities between the logos of both brands. Paytm, backed by Chinese e-commerce major Alibaba, is India’s largest mobile wallet company. In a notice filed to the Indian Trademark office, the Silicon Valley firm has alleged that Paytm’s logo is “deceptively and confusingly similar” to Paypal’s. It has also accused the Indian company of “slavishly adopting the two-tone blue colour scheme in its entirety”. Read more... More about Paypal, Paytm, India, and Business Read More »12 of the most ridiculous 999 calls received by London police in 2016
LONDON — Being the person on the other end of the phone when someone dials 999 must be one of the hardest jobs in the world. Not only do you have to remain calm in the face of extremely stressful situations, but you also have to deal with people who haven't quite grasped the definition of "emergency". As part of a campaign to "reduce improper use of the 999 number over the Christmas period", London's Metropolitan Police have released extracts from 12 of the oddest 999 calls they received in 2016... 1. “Can you give me the number for the non-emergency police?”. Read more... More about Uk, Metropolitan Police, Police, London, and Emergency Calls Read More »The Golden Globes red carpet will stream on Twitter, because you'll already be there
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is giving Twitter its due. In a partnership with dick clark productions and Twitter, the HFPA will stream the Golden Globes red carpet pre-show exclusively on Twitter. For two hours before the Golden Globes ceremony, hosts will interview the attending celebrities and integrate Twitter content and fan questions from the web. This is part of an ongoing effort at Twitter to debut exclusive video content in the world of entertainment, politics and sports. “The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is always searching for innovative ways and original tools to reach our audience wherever it is as Hollywood comes together on one night to celebrate the best in motion pictures and television – and Twitter is the recognized partner to help us expand our audience,” said HFPA President Lorenzo Soria in a press release. “With the community that Twitter has built, together we will bring the magic of the Golden Globe Awards red carpet to the homes and eyes of aspiring storytellers across the country.” Read more... More about Dick Clark Productions, Hfpa, Video, Twitter, and Television Read More »Samsung Pay may launch in India next year
Even as India struggles in the aftermath of invalidation of much of its cash and shows interest in mobile wallets, top Silicon Valley companies haven’t jumped in on the opportunity yet with their epayment solutions. One company however seems interested now. Samsung is said to be working on launching Samsung Pay in India next year. The company is eyeing the first half of 2017 as the timeframe for the launch of its digital payment solution, according to SamMobile. The South Korean conglomerate has begun testing the mobile payment service in the Indian market, according to the report. Depending on how the testing goes, there could be a delay in the launch of Samsung Pay in India. Read more... More about Apple Pay, Android Pay, India, Samsung Pay, and Samsung Read More »Asiatic lioness kills cow, terrorizes village in India
An Asiatic lioness shocked villagers in India as she ventured into a village close to the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, a popular tourist destination in the state of Gujarat. The lioness had also killed a calf in the Virpur-Gadhia village and terrorized villagers, who captured the incident on video, ANI reported. The sanctuary is home to 45 Asiatic lions, and this is the second time in the year that the animals have managed to venture into nearby villagesIn July, a pride of eight lions had made its way to the streets of Junagadh, located two kilometers away from the wildlife sanctuary.
Airbnb is getting in the airline booking disruption game with 'Flights'
Airbnb wants to be more than just your next vacation lodging solution—the home rental startup's now looking to offer flight booking service within the next 18 months, Bloomberg reported Monday. The project, known as Flights, may either involve building its own proprietary tool, acquiring an online travel agency, or licensing data from an agency, according to anonymous people familiar with the matter speaking to Bloomberg. Airbnb introducing flight booking isn't all that surprising. After all: The company teased the future offering last month. In November, Airbnb launched a new feature called Trips, host-guided activities which users can discover and book through the newly redesigned app. Airbnb also added a section to the app called Places that offers recommendations. Read more... More about Startups, Tech, Apps And Software, Travel, and Business Read More »How game updates can change the esports landscape
Esports professionals face a unique challenge not known to traditional sports. With frequent game updates and a constantly evolving ruleset, players and teams must adapt quickly to changes in order to stay at the top. Meanwhile, game developers face a dilemma: prioritize the wishes of the vast majority of players (and potential players), or cater to the esports stars who play for a living. 5 of the biggest fake news stories from 2016
We live in a 'post-truth' era, or at least according to Oxford Dictionaries which named it 'word of the year' in its annual poll. Facebook is getting intense scrutiny for failing to filter out fake news from the platform, forcing Mark Zuckerberg, after initial hesitation, to introduce a series of updates aimed at preventing the spread of hoaxes as well as false and misleading news. We had a look at 2016's most viral news stories that were also spectacularly fake: Corona beer founderIt was the perfect feel-good story for 2016. After his death, the founder of Corona beer, Antonino Fernandez, generously leaves 200m euros (£169m; $208m) to the 80 residents of Cerezales, the Spanish village where he was born and raised. Read more... More about 2016, Debunks, and Us World Read More »These augmented reality robots will turn your living room into a battlefield.
MekaMon are advanced battlebots with augmented reality capabilities. They're made by a British startup called Reach Robotics and are priced at $329. Read more... More about Mashable Video, Ar, Augmented Reality, Real Time Video, and Real Time Read More »How to heat up your style during the cold season
The dress code at the Mashable office has always been relaxed. But now that the weather is getting colder, we started to think that a few of the guys might enjoy a little style upgrade. Sure they looked good before, but after — they were ready for the runway. The men of Mashable got some help turning up the heat on their cold weather style thanks to Aaron Wester, a popular blogger and certified style guru. As the creative voice behind The Modern Otter, Aaron Wester knows a thing or two about how to pull together a scene-stealing look. Actually, he knows a lot. With a degree in theater and a minor in costume design, Wester has a fascination with fabric and how things are made. He worked in merchandising and visuals within the creative side of a retail company for 10 years before launching his menswear and style blog in 2014. Read more... More about Supported, Sponsored, Lifestyle, and Fashion Read More »Here's the biggest cosmic event that will captivate America in 2017
A total solar eclipse will take place in August 2017 and it's going to sweep across the United States. Read more... More about Mashable Video, Usa, American, Cosmic, and Solar Eclipse Read More »Someone made a gingerbread Big Ben and it's ridiculously realistic
LONDON — Put away your woefully inadequate DIY gingerbread houses. Someone's just made a gingerbread monument. London's iconic Big Ben has been recreated in gingerbread, fondant icing and sweets by Buns of Fun bakery as part of an exhibition at historic house Holkham Hall in Norfolk, UK. It goes without saying that the model is not to scale. Big Ben's 320-foot towering presence would be pretty tough to recreate in baked goods. This model is five foot high. Image: HOLKHAM HOUSE The tower — which took a year to plan and make — was constructed using 1,400 gilded gingerbread men, 12kg (26lbs) of coloured sugar paste and thousands of sprinkles. Read more... More about Watercooler, Lifestyle, Holidays, Christmas, and Food Read More »This innovative performance of ‘The Tempest’ will change the way you experience live theatre
Paid Content by IntelWhat’s past may be prologue, but the latest production of The Tempest by The Royal Shakespeare Company is nothing short of the future. The RSC, in partnership with Intel and The Imaginarium Studios, has embarked on an exciting theatrical endeavor that’s redefining the technical capabilities of live performance. In the new and groundbreaking show, Ariel the sprite makes a highly anticipated debut as one of theatre's most technologically innovative characters. Below, we delve into the process of introducing this revolutionary technology to the stage. Behind the curtainWhile holograms may be the future of musical performances, "digital characters" just may be the future of Shakespearean classics. Ariel, a digital avatar powered by Intel, acts alongside the show’s veteran cast with real-time motion capture Read more... More about Technology, Live Theatre, Theatre, Shakespeare, and The Tempest Read More »Good news: Samsung reportedly knows what ruined the Galaxy Note7
It's not going to be an easy task, but before Samsung can earn back consumer trust, it'll need to explain what went ultimately went wrong with the Galaxy Note7 and caused it to be discontinued. A month after publicly apologizing for the Note7 and promising to launch a thorough investigation into the disastrous phone launch, Samsung has now reportedly concluded its internal investigation, according to The Korea Herald. Although no definitive details as to what caused so many Note7's to explode and prompt two global recalls before the phone was permanently discontinued were shared, the report claims Samsung has shared its investigation findings with third-party labs such as the Korea Testing Laboratory and UL. Read more... More about Investigation, Galaxy Note 7, Note 7, Explosions, and Android Read More »Americans still prefer physical stores, but online shopping continues to grow
As Americans power through holiday shopping season, a vast majority now say they shop online. A new survey from the Pew Research Center found that eight in ten people in the United States have made purchases on the web, though only around 28 percent do so at least multiple times per month. While that number might not sound significant to you if online shopping is second nature, brick-and-mortar is still by far the dominant form of retail in the United States. E-commerce has been steadily growing for years, but it currently only accounts for less than a tenth of all sales annually, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Read more... More about E Commerce, Pew Research, and Business Read More »Camila Cabello quits Fifth Harmony and fans are struggling
Miss Moving On now has a new relevance: Fifth Harmony announced the departure of singer Camila Cabello on Sunday night via Twitter statement, leaving just four members of the group formed on The X Factor in 2012.
"After four and a half years of being together, we have been informed via her representatives that Camila has decided to leave Fifth Harmony," the statement read. "We wish her well." Obviously, "informed via her representatives" is pretty dang cold/official, leading plenty to speculate about exactly what went down. Read more... More about Music, Entertainment, Fifth Harmony, and Conversations Read More »How esports players face the challenges of a changing game
Frequent game updates and rule changes can be obstacles for esports teams and players, who must adapt quickly when competing for millions of dollars and recognition. Developers of competitive titles face the challenge of pleasing casual players and professionals alike. Read more... More about Mashable Video, Valve, Counterstrike, Gaming, and Esports Read More »Robots will walk you and drive you: Hyundai reveals its future
LAS VEGAS — A conference room at the Mandarin Oriental is not the place I'd expected to finally get captured by the robots. But there I am in a smart exoskeleton, unable to move. It's lightweight and plastic, but my legs are locked in place by struts at the hips and knees. Luckily, the engineers from Hyundai hand me a pair of crutches. The left crutch has a game controller D-Pad. I lean forward and to the right, tap a button, and my left leg jerks up, out and down. Lean left, tap again, and my right leg does the same. I am a robot doing a Frankenstein's monster stomp; maybe I'm some kind of superhero. Read more... More about Exoskeleton, Self Driving Cars, Cars, Tech, and Work Play Read More »Alphabet's Waymo unveils its autonomous Chrysler minivan
Google's parent company Alphabet announced last week it had spun off Google's self-driving cars division into a new company called Waymo. And on Monday, Waymo CEO John Krafcik shared some info about the company's first car, a modified, self-driving Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan. In May, Google teamed up with Fiat Chrysler to build a fleet of 100 autonomous Pacifica minivans. But this is the first time we can actually see how the completed vehicle looks. According to Krafcik, the cars are equipped with Waymo's latest self-driving tech, which includes a "suite of updated sensors, all-new computer and other major system updates." Read more... More about Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Minivan, Self Driving Car, Alphabet, Google, and Waymo Read More »Merriam-Webster's word of the year perfectly describes 2016
"Surreal" has beaten "fascism" to become Merriam-Webster's 2016 word of the year. Defined by the dictionary as "marked by the intense irrational reality of a dream," "surreal" is a relatively new word in English, having been first included in the dictionary in 1967. But never before have so many people felt compelled to look it up on their dictionary. “Spikes of interest in a word are usually triggered by a single event,” said Peter Sokolowski, editor-at-large for Merriam-Webster. “So what’s truly remarkable this year about ‘surreal’ is that so many different stories led people to look it up. Read more... More about Trump, Surreal, Merriam Webster, Dictionary, and World Read More »This bed makes itself
Smartduvet uses an inflatable sheet to reset bedding in place on its own giving you one less thing to worry about before your morning coffee. Read more... More about Mashable Video, Duvet, Real Time Video, Sleep Products, and Smart Home Read More »This beautiful genius got a Game Boy Color to run 'Wolfenstein 3D'
There are only three enemy types and the sounds effects are a jumble of bleeps and bloops, but here's first-person shooter classic Wolfenstein 3D running on a Game Boy Color. It's loaded onto a custom cartridge that features all 10 levels from the original game's first episode. The Game Boy Color in the above video is original Nintendo hardware, dating back to 1998. This Game Boy port is the work of Swedish homebrewer Anders Granlund, who got started on the project back in October. He's been documenting the process of building the custom cartridge and convincing it to play a game that was never meant for Nintendo's handheld right here. Read more... More about Game Boy Color, Wolfenstein 3d, Gaming, and Entertainment Read More »6 gadgets that will keep you warm in your cold, lonely office
Does your evil employer keep your workplace at a temperature you could hang meat in? Fight back against the cold with gadgets that will warm you up while you're stuck at your desk. From heated feet warmers to cosy headphones, we've got your cold spell covered. Layer up and take a look through our cool selection of winter warmers. Narwhal heated slippersThe Narwhal heated slippers ($45.49) will warm your tootsies and your heart with their adorable narwhal design. One USB charge gives you up to six hours of heated bliss. Warm MouseImage: Warm Mouse Anyone who suffers from poor circulation will know that cold hands are the worst. The directly named Warm Mouse ($59) will keep your digits cosy with its built-in heating functionality. Its USB connectivity offers plug-and-play ease of use for any computer. Read more... More about Heat Gadgets, Usb Gadgets, Gadgets, and Tech Read More »Google's Pixel phones might have a serious audio problem
Dull design aside, the Google Pixel and Pixel XL are two of the best premium Android phones (if not the best) you can buy right now. But there might be an issue with their speakers, especially at high volumes. Reddit user Mark "badmark" Buckman brought to attention the problem after posting a video of his Pixel and Pixel XL exhibiting audio distortion when the volume is turned to their highest levels. With the volumed cranked all the way up, the Perfect Piano app is virtually unusable. As you drag your fingers along the keys, the keys sound more like static with lots of audio popping. Read more... More about Smartphones, Android, Speaker, Issue, and Audio Read More »Adorable little boy really, really loves potatoes
While some toddlers might not even realize that dirty potatoes are what french fries are made out of, one little boy is clearly well aware. Twitterer Sarah Coates shared a photo of her younger brother lusting after the starchy vegetable in a pretty impressive way. He latched his little hands on the counter, leaving his feet dangling off the ground and his mouth agape at the sight of the taters. "Get you someone who looks at you the way my brother looks at potatoes," Coates captioned the photo.
Queen of Shade Mariah Carey has something to say about Demi Lovato
If there's anyone who knows how to throw shade, it's Mariah Carey. The festive singer played a game of "Plead The Fifth: Diva Edition" with Andy Cohen. Carey had some thoughts about Demi Lovato, who mistakenly inserted herself into Carey's drama with Jennifer Lopez. "I don't know her either and so I wouldn't say anything to her," Carey said, before addressing the comments Lovato made earlier this year. "She should come up, introduce herself to me, say, 'Here's my opinion, what do you think about it?' That's how you handle sh*t, OK?" Shots fired. Technology meets nature in beautiful 'Plant Your Mac' photo series
Hey, technology, it's about time you meet this thing called nature. French artist Christophe Guinet works to combine components of nature with aspects of modern day culture and technology, and for his latest project, "Plant Your Mac," he's decided to merge classic Apple products with living plants. It's the best of both worlds. The project features classic Macintosh products and old school computers — the iMac G3, the Powerbook and Macintosh Classic — transformed as terrariums. Guinet told Mashable via email that he had the unique project in mind for a while after seeing how technologically dependent people have become over the years. Read more... More about Photo Series, Nature, Plants, Tech, and Apple Read More »Rick Deckard comes out of hiding in first 'Blade Runner 2049' teaser
Way before HBO brought us Westworld's humanoid robots, there was Blade Runner, Ridley Scott's 1982 cult hit about a dystopic Los Angeles populated by replicants. Over 30 years have passed since Scott's film — and also in its world, where things pick up in the trailer for Blade Runner 2049. Sometime during those three decades, Rick Deckard (Ford) has disappeared. Ryan Gosling plays K, a new-school LAPD blade runner who seeks Rick's help with an emerging threat. From Paramount Pictures' official synopsis: Read more... More about Warner Bros, Videos, Teaser, Ryan Gosling, and Harrison Ford Read More »Londoners' holiday messages to Syrian refugees will make you cry
LONDON — As we travel home to be with our loved ones this holiday season, many of us will be thinking of those in less fortunate positions. Given the recent events in Aleppo, many of us will also be casting our minds to the millions of people who've been displaced due to the crisis in Syria. Creative agency Shape History has conducted a social experiment as Londoners were going about their holiday shopping. The filmmakers went up to shoppers and asked them if they had any Christmas messages for refugees fleeing conflict. Read more... More about Holidays 2016, Lifestyle, Social Good, Christmas, and Syrian Refugees Read More »Forget Google Home and just adopt this parrot instead
This African grey parrot cannot order you a taxi, or play your holiday playlist or Google Mariah Carey's birthday. What it can do is mimic the sound some devices make before answering your "OK Google" question. She won't make your life easier, but she's certainly entertaining. Neil Patrick Harris answers 73 questions while also rapping 'Hamilton'
If you've ever wanted a look inside Neil Patrick Harris' Harlem townhouse, Vogue's latest video will give you everything you've been dreaming of and more. NPH's casa is filled with treasures, including a Banksy painting, the original booth from How I Met Your Mother, a full bar, a movie theatre and a robot parrot. Musical highlights include Harris rapping "My Shot" from Hamilton, him singing the Doogie Howser, M.D. theme song and a piano interlude with his husband David Burtka. Can we please come to the Harris-Burtka house for Christmas? Read more... More about David Burtka, How I Met Your Mother, Viral Video, New York City, and Vogue Read More »Extremely grateful kid is excited to receive toilet paper for Christmas
Move over avocado kid, toilet paper boy is here to steal the show. Faking appreciation after receiving a less than stellar gift is an art form kids learn to perfect early. By the time they hit their fourth Christmas, kids know exactly how to pretend that they love every gift they unwrap. "Thank you. I love this toilet paper," the little boy says after receiving the gift. He then rushes to the bathroom and places a fresh roll on the holder. We should all be a little more grateful for double ply this year. This proposal photo has the internet totally delighted
A proposal photo blew up across the internet on Saturday thanks to a happy bystander pictured in the photo's background. Carlos Jair, a Twitter user from Houston, Texas, shared a photo of the moment his sister proposed to her girlfriend at the Art Institute of Chicago. In his tweet, he drew attention to the delighted older woman smiling at the happy couple.
His sister Jessica tells news.com.au that she and the photographer were looking over photos taken the day of the proposal when they noticed the woman's sweet reaction. Read more... More about Pics and Watercooler Read More »Group video calling lands on Facebook Messenger
Facebook just added a feature to Messenger that may make even the most ardent skeptics want to use the app: group video calling. The chat app now allows groups of up to six friends to make video calls directly from their messages. The feature, available now to anyone with the latest version of the app, also includes the Snapchat-like animated masks Facebook has been experimenting with on the iOS version of Messenger. (The company says Android support for the feature is "coming soon.") Starting a group call works the same way as it does for one-to-one video calls in the app: tapping the camera icon in the top right corner while in a chat will begin the video call. Read more... More about Facebook Messenger, Facebook, Apps And Software, Tech, and Apps Software Read More »A chance encounter at a Chick-fil-A restaurant turned into a holiday story that will make you weep
Here's a holiday pick-me-up that took place at a fried chicken sandwich restaurant. A chance encounter at a Chick-fil-A in Indiana has ended with more the $40,000 raised for charity. Local man Cameron Nelson recently stopped at the chicken sandwich fast-food eatery and noticed a man behind the cash register was in a neck brace and sling, according to a post on his Facebook page on Dec. 8. Nelson said he asked the man what happened and the cashier said he'd been in a car accident, but had to keep working to support himself and help feed the homeless on Christmas. Read more... More about Homelessness, Fundraiser, Donations, Chick Fil A, and Watercooler Read More »The ultimate guide to sending holiday e-cards
Don't.* Easy, right? Listen, we get it: Putting together a paper holiday card is time-consuming and costly. So-called "e-cards" solve both of these problems in that they're quick to distribute and inexpensive, even free. But have you ever considered that the core value of a paper holiday card is that... they are time-consuming and costly to produce? That getting them in the mail is like receiving a wee present before Christmas — and that opening an email, for crying out loud, is hardly the same as digging your thumb into an overly spit-wet envelope from your grandparents with a picture of them nestled next to a fireplace buried within like cardboard treasure? Read more... More about E Cards, Holiday Gift Guide, Holidays 2016, Christmas, and Tech Read More »Unicyclist playing Star Wars theme on flaming bagpipes is the real 'Rogue One'
Things don't always have to make sense. Take this video of Portland's The Unipiper, for example. Do we know why he chose to ride a unicycle through some very thick snow? No. Do we know why his bagpipes are flaming? Definitely not. Do we know why he's wearing a Darth Vader mask? Maybe because he's playing the Star Wars theme song — but honestly, who really knows? What we do know is: this video, whatever it is, is glorious. In all its confusing splendor, this clip really is the Rogue One. Showtime orders Season 8 of 'Shameless'
Showtime president David Nevins announced Monday morning that the hit series Shameless will be returning for an eighth season. Production will begin in 2017 on 12 new episodes whose release date has yet to be announced. Shameless Season 7 concluded on Dec. 18, with the Gallagher family dealing with shades of grief and Frank planning his next move. In its seven season, Shameless became one of Showtime's longest-running and highest-performing shows ever and earned star William H. Macy Emmy nominations for his performance as Frank. Read more... More about Showtime, Shameless, and Entertainment Read More »Watch a bunch of beagles lose their minds over a remote control car
When you need to exercise, what do you do? If it's anything besides "chasing after a remote control car with a pack of beagles," we advise you to adjust your regimen accordingly. Feel free to treat this adorable video like an old workout tape and follow the moves along with the pups. Here's a solution to our plastic problem
A German company is producing disposable plates entirely made out of leaves as an alternative to plastic packaging. One plate, on average, costs around 50 cents and is 100% biodegradable. Read more... More about Plastic Waste, Craft, Asia, Germany, and India Read More »Snow-shoveling dancers will make you want to move to Canada, now
'Tis the season for mass protests, cyberhacking and national emergencies — except in Canada, of course. The Maritime Bhangra group recently posted this video of themselves bhangra dancing while shoveling snow. The video, which has since gone viral, almost makes hard, physical labor actually look enjoyable. The group is encouraging other people to learn how to Bhangra, and even included a link for people to donate to help stop ALS in the post, because that's how relentlessly Canadian they are. Oh, Canada. 5 Lightning headphones to stuff in the stockings of iPhone 7 owners
Since Apple killed the 3.5mm headphone jack for the iPhone 7, you now have three options for on-the-go music — go wireless, use an adapter or get special headphones with a Lightning connector. Wireless can be pricey and unwieldy and those pesky dongles are prone to getting lost, so we're taking a look at the last option. Here are five strong sets of Lightning headphones for iPhone 7 owners, from budget choices to splash-the-cash luxury. Philips Fidelio M2L, $299.99Philips Fidelio M2L Image: Philips These on-ear options from Philips have an integrated digital-to-analog converter (DAC), amp and 1.6-inch drivers that utilize high-powered neodymium magnets with the claim of delivering "true high-definition sound." Read more... More about Roundup, Lightning Headphones, Headphones, Lightning Port, and Iphone 7 Read More »Study: You’re secretly being trained to break your iPhone on purpose
Buying a new iPhone whenever a new one is released would sure help Apple's bottomline, but it's not so nice on your wallet. Of course, it's slightly easier to justify to yourself when you're forced to upgrade your phone when it's broken. But what if you're "accidentally" breaking your phone, on purpose, to justify the upgrade? According to a recent study, that's exactly what we're doing. A recent Columbia Business School study found that people are bound to be more careless with their device when a new model is available. It's a phenomenon called the "upgrade effect," wrote Silvia Bellezza, Francesca Gina, and Josh Ackerman (respectively: an assistant professor of marketing at Columbia Business School, a professor of business administration at Harvard Business School, and an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Michigan). Read more... More about Iphone Upgrade, Business, Tech, Devices, and Phone Read More »Make your holidays delightfully weird with a choir singing Christmas carols like goats
This year, Christmas is getting meta. The Swedish division of the charitable organization Action Aid released a very special Christmas album last December featuring some lively goats. Plastering goat squeals into normal songs has become a pretty popular internet trend in the last few years, so the charity created an entire album with goat bleating as the main instrument. Action Aid decided to get even weirder this year by having a female choir sing some Christmas songs in the style of goats. Instead of just releasing an album, Action Aid threw a full concert, because why not? In a press release from Action Aid, Daniela Westmark, a member of the choice shared some of her thoughts on the concert. Read more... More about Christmas, Goats, Viral Videos, Watercooler, and Videos Read More »This frozen lighthouse looks like a fairytale castle
This lighthouse was transformed into an icy palace after below-freezing temperatures hit St. Joseph, Michigan. Read more... More about Mashable Video, Real Time Video, Natural World, Ice, and Frozen Read More »Adorable pup does her best human impression to keep hospital patients smiling
Here's a creative way to keep patients smiling. While visiting her mother in the hospital, YouTube user Anne Grantham came across this well-dressed pup doing her very best human impression. Walking through the halls on her two hind legs, this dog can really pull off a dress. Check out the hospital's adorable visitor in the video above. Man turns malfunctioning bus-stop ad into makeshift rave
A flickering light is usually seen as a nothing but a headache-inducing nuisance. But this Minnesota man saw the glaring potential in a bus stop's malfunctioning advertisement. Storyful reports that Jordan Hedlund used this bus stop's glitchy, strobe-like light to dance to Skrillex's "Kill Everybody." Who wouldn't? | ||||
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ponedjeljak, 19. prosinca 2016.
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