May 3, 2012

Ashton Kutcher Popchips Video Pulled Due To Accusations Of Racism

An online video for Popchips featuring Ashton Kutcher sparked controversy and heavy criticism almost immediately after it was released yesterday.

Shortly following the release of the web ad Kutcher shared the link to the video on his Twitter account, and the backlash was almost immediate.

The video depicts a fictional online dating service, with Kutcher playing all four of the various men looking for love, all of which are over-the-top stereotypes, including a laid-back existential stoner, a picky fashionista, a tattoo covered southern man, and – the source of the sour taste in everyone’s mouth – an Indian Bollywood producer named Raj.

Viewers found Kutcher’s portrayal of Raj (complete with brown face makeup) offensive and racist, calling the ad distasteful. Still others have simply painted Kutcher as “an idiot” for not realizing that it would be offensive.

Popchips has removed the original video from their YouTube and Facebook pages, replacing it with a version that has edited out the Indian character, but you can still view the original posted by YouTube user “popchipsfans” who quickly put up a copy before the take-down.Continue Reading

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May 3, 2012

‘The Scream’ Becomes Most Expensive Artwork Ever Sold At Auction

TheScreamByEdvardMunch The Scream Becomes Most Expensive Artwork Ever Sold At Auction

Edvard Munch’s famous impressionist masterpiece “The Scream” was sold yesterday, May 2nd, at auction at Sotheby’s in New York City for a massive record breaking $119.9 million (after including the buyer’s premium), making “The Scream” the most expensive piece of artwork ever sold at auction.

The previous record holder was Picasso’s “Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust” which was sold at auction by Christies in 2010 for $106.5 million.

The iconic image depicts a man (aptly) screaming with a wide open mouth while holding his head. The sky in the background is streaked with red and orange, and the image is often used as a symbol of human anxiety, and is widely reproduced.

The 1895 piece is one of four versions of the Norwegian painter’s most famous composition, but remains the only one left in private hands.Continue Reading

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May 3, 2012

Want To Make Better Decisions? Then Learn Another Language

many languages Want To Make Better Decisions? Then Learn Another Language

A group of psychologists, led by Boaz Keysar of the University of Chicago, conducted a series of experiments in an attempt to determine if individuals would make the same decisions when thinking in their non-native languages as they would in their native tongue.

The results were surprising. Although it was initially though that the difficulty of using a foreign language might make the process of coming to a rational deliberate decision harder, it seems that this is not only not the case, but in fact the opposite.

Using a foreign language makes decisions more rational by removing instinctive and often misleading biases that affect and influence us when speaking and thinking in our natural language.

Apparently the two distinct modes of thoughts that make up reasoning – the cognition-intensive analytical thought that is more systematic, and the emotionally charged unconscious instinctive thoughts – are separated during the forced, deliberate process of thinking in a second language. This seems to change the way we view how potential benefits and risks are perceived, viewing the situation more analytically, and tends to reduce the instances of immediate, instinctive or emotional responses.Continue Reading

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May 3, 2012

Inside Chechnya – The Photographs Of Diana Markosian

dianamarkosyan Inside Chechnya – The Photographs Of Diana MarkosianWhen she was just 20 years old photo-journalist Diana Markosian asked the news agency she was working for in Moscow to send her to Chechnya. Many others in her position would have dreaded setting foot inside the much-troubled Chechnya, which has suffered decades of war but Markosian was intrigued by the region and its beleaguered history. Her agency denied her request, but she refused to be disheartened and made her own way there.

Whilst many of her work colleagues would fight tooth and nail to avoid being sent to Chechnya, Markosian has been there several times since her first visit and moved there permanently in 2011. Whilst the Russian authorities declared the region of Chechnya had normalized more than three years ago, she doesn’t deny that living there is still fraught with danger.

In an interview with Time Magazine’s LightBox Markosian explains that, women are still regularly kidnapped and that she is becoming used to being followed by authorities, having her work checked and her images deleted. Continue Reading

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May 3, 2012

Time-Lapse Video Shows Reconstruction Of One World Trade Center From 2004 – 2012 In 2 minutes

On April 30, 2012 the 104 storey tall One World Trade Center became the tallest building in New York City, surpassing the height of the Empire State Building. The epic project has taken 8 years to complete and costing $3.8 billion.

Since 2004, the EarthCam network has had cameras pointed at the construction site, documenting its progress. Taking images captured over the past eight years, they put together a time-lapse video(above) showcasing the construction progress from 2004-2012. For your pleasure, you can now watch eight years worth of construction in just two minutes.

 PinExt Time Lapse Video Shows Reconstruction Of One World Trade Center From 2004 2012 In 2 minutes
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May 3, 2012

‘The Internet Has A Cat Obsession You Say?’ – Old News From Murdoch Tabloid

lolcat ‘The Internet Has A Cat Obsession You Say?’ – Old News From Murdoch Tabloid

It is widely accepted that the worlds of web journalism and print journalism are very different places indeed. While the Fleet Street Brigade normally get their hands on the big controversial stories first, the web journalists tend to be much quicker at reporting on trending articles and are the authority on all things internet, technology news and the weird, wacky and wonderful.

However it is still difficult to imagine that a newspaper could be so far behind the times that they are only just running an article about something that the rest of us see as really really old news.

Yesterday Uproxx.com’s Cajun Boy pointed out that Rupert Murdoch’s Sun newspaper very recently ran an article about the Internets cat obsession. I mean seriously, who doesn’t already know that? The article was called ‘Wacky cat pics are web hit’ and talked about the ‘lolcats’ section of Eric Nakagawa’s Icanhascheezburger website.

The articles focus was the fact that the website is a success and that people love to look at pictures of cats doing crazy things on the internet. There was no new angle to it or anything that the majority of us weren’t already aware of. They featured a number of popular cat pictures in the article, some of which have been around the internet more times than Usain Bolt has been round a race-track!

Cajun Boy said: “Is it any coincidence that a British parliamentary committee ruled today that Murdoch is unfit to run a media company? I think not.” I think it would be fairly difficult to disagree with him on this one.

When I used to write for a weekly local newspaper, my editor was constantly banging on to me about knowing the importance of what is ‘newsworthy’ and what isn’t, he trashed so many of my story ideas because he felt that they weren’t recent or newsworthy enough. I know exactly what he would have done with that story…

Here’s that article about LOLCats in the Sun.

 PinExt ‘The Internet Has A Cat Obsession You Say?’ – Old News From Murdoch Tabloid
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May 3, 2012

Californian Files Lawsuit Against BMW Over Erection Problems

wtf is going on here Californian Files Lawsuit Against BMW Over Erection Problems

Ever since the lawsuit revolution a few years ago which saw people suing manufacturers for all sorts of issues and problems they happened to have with their products, the media have taken it upon themselves to report the craziest, weirdest and wackiest lawsuits that happen to come up.

We scoffed at the woman who sued the company who manufactured her microwave for failing to warn her that putting her wet dog in it would not only dry its fur but would also result in the gruesome death of her beloved pooch! We chuckled at the guy who sued over the hot coffee, ‘I’m sorry sir, did you want it cold?’ I laughed hysterically when I heard that a company who manufactured Batman fancy dress costumes had to put a warning sign on the packaging that read; “WARNING – Cape does not enable wearer to fly”. I mean, seriously – what are people on, stupidity tablets?

The latest odd one to surface on the web is the story of the Californian man who is suing BMW North America and Corbin-Pacific after claiming that a four hour ride on one of their motorcycles left him with a ‘severe case of priaprism’.

For those of you who haven’t heard of this particular medical condition, it is when an erect penis or clitoris does not return to its flaccid state despite the lack of physical or psychological stimulation. The name is inspired by the Greek fertility god Priapus who was often pictured with an unduly hefty erection.

Court reports state that Henry Wolf experienced his extreme case of priapism after riding on the 1993 model BMW motorbike which had been fitted with an aftermarket Corbin seat in May of 2010. He claims the ‘ridge-like’ seat caused the condition, which is still affecting him to this day.

According to ultimatemotorcycling.com Wolf is seeking “damages for product liability, negligent infliction of emotional distress, personal injury, medical expenses and lost wages.”
His case was filed at California Superior Court in San Francisco and we are eagerly awaiting the verdict!

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May 3, 2012

Ode To The Public Transport Wizard

Wizard Newspaper Ode To The Public Transport Wizard

Whilst scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed this afternoon I came across this little gem on the site ‘I know this great little place in London’. It was a picture of what looked like classified section of a newspaper and it read;

‘To the man who got on the bus dressed as a wizard who removed the chip from his Oyster card and put it in a magic wand, I salute you. Tom, London.’

The website posted this picture just 24 hours ago and it has already received nearly 3000 shares, though I have absolutely no way of knowing when the add was posted in the newspaper or indeed when the Public Transport Wizard dazzled bus goers with his Oyster-infused magic wand, I really want to find the guy!

I mean, what an ingenious idea, I love it when people take fancy dress to new levels and would be interested in meeting the Public Transport Wizard to find out if that’s what he was doing. The other possibility one would have to consider is that maybe he didn’t sit there for hours dissecting his Oyster card and supergluing it to his wand…Maybe he’s an actual wizard, with a working wand? Although the chances for that are minimal – if he was a real wizard, he probably wouldn’t need to get the bus!

Whatever the case, I think he’s brilliant, so Buzz Patrol readers, help me find the Public Transport Wizard so I can bring him in for an interview (and perhaps attempt to steal his wand when he isn’t looking). Share this story and leave comment if you have seen him or think you know his identity!

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May 3, 2012

‘Living Archive Of People’s Stories and Lives’ – Boat Project About To Launch

It has often been said that a vessel which has been sailing the high seas could tell a thousand stories; tales of adventures and expeditions , battles against crashing waves and sea creatures or the beauty of sitting atop a tranquil ocean as the sun sets against the horizon.

Well Lone Twin’s Boat Project is one with a difference, it can tell you thousands of stories and yet it has not even taken its maiden voyage yet. The 30ft state of the art yacht was made almost entirely from wooden items that people from the South East donated along with the items story. From exotic woods to the more commonplace, from piano to picture frame, every single donated item had a tale twisted into the grain.

The Boat Project collected these items from February to August of 2011 and has since been using them to create this ‘living archive of people’s stories and lives’. The yacht will be launched on Monday 7th May 2012.

Captain Mike Barham and his crew will then leave Chichester Harbour taking the yacht on her maiden voyage throughout the region of South East England. After the yacht returns from its Maiden Voyage, hopefully having collected a few more stories from its journey, it will be given back to the region as a resource for the general public.

The Boat Project is part of ‘Artists Taking the Lead’ – which is a series of 12 public art commissions throughout the UK as a way to commemorate the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. The boat project won the commission for the South East and was funded by Arts Council England.

It will also be a part of the London 2012 Festival, a 12-week festival starting on June 21st which aims to bring the work of leading artists from around the world together with the most highly regarded from the UK.

Unfortunately tickets for the launch are sold out, but the Boat Project organizers will be documenting the day. You can also follow events as they unfold on Facebook or Twitter.

The Boat Project

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May 2, 2012

Mom’s Amazing Bento Character Box Lunches

PacMan1 Moms Amazing Bento Character Box Lunches

Both Boing Boing and Geekologie just featured an interesting series of pictures this week from a mom’s personal tumblr blog that she calls Lunchbox Awesome.

The mother, Heather Sitarzewski, set out on a year long project to make her son a different healthy bento lunchbox for school every day throughout the entire school year. What makes it interesting though is that almost all the bento meals are also kyaraben – a type of bento where food is arranged to look like an image, usually a character, animal, or plant.

Sitarzewski’s kyaraben bentos are predominately cartoon characters, primarily from Disney movies, but she also has made a variety of other cartoon and holiday themed lunches, all of which are amazing.

Some of her non-Disney bentos have featured such cartoons and characters as: The Lorax & The Grinch by Dr Suess, Angry Birds, Ninja Turtles, many different Muppets characters, Sponge Bob, Wallace & Gromit, Snoopy, Phineas & Ferb, Ghostbusters, Sesame Street characters, Hello Kitty, Harry Potter, Pac-Man, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar.Continue Reading

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