The Week's Funniest and Most Intriguing News (week starting July 4)
As the weekend gets closer and closer, your productivity goes out the window. You don’t feel like working and you’re not really willing to go over serious news about serious topics.
So, just like the weeks before, I invite you to check out 10 news that will put a smile on your face, make you laugh, and probably even make you say wow or what the f...
1. Forget about fireworks, watch Cpt. Picard sing country music
Since 4th of July was the first day of the week, it’s only fitting that we start this article with some 4th of July related news. Here goes.
Patrick Stewart, known for portraying Captain Picard in Star Trek, put out a joke music album entitled Patrick Stewart’s Cowboy Classics. Here's the fun video that promotes the album.
Joking aside, you can actually get Patrick Stewart's 5-song sampler EP from CD Baby for $10. All proceeds will go to charity.
2. Twitch thinks you want to watch people eat
Twitch, the live streaming video platform for gamers, recently announced that it is experimenting with a new category called Social Eating. What is it? It’s a means for Twitch streamers to "socialize with their viewers over their favorite meals."
So basically, Social Eating is about watching Twitch streamers eat.
"Twitch is a firm believer in letting the community’s interests dictate the direction of our platform's content," said Raiford Cockfield, Director, APAC, Twitch. "In the case of Social Eating, we were getting a lot of demand from our Korean users given how this is a huge cultural phenomenon in their part of the world. We were also receiving feedback from our users who had embraced our platform's Creative category for cooking, but lamented they couldn't spend an equal amount of time eating what they prepared. While it is definitely a unique request, the Twitch community is nothing, if not unique, and we support their passion and interests."
3. Hillarymoji, a free keyboard app for Hillary Clinton supporters
Earlier this week, software developer Tanooki Suit released Hillarymoji, a free keyboard app for iOS that features several emoji of none other than presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
"With Hillarymoji, it’s easy to show your solidarity for Hillary, support the causes you believe in, and celebrate history in the making. And weekly emoji updates mean you won’t miss out on any of the highlights from the campaign trail,” says Tanooki Suit.
4. Meet Classon, a smart bicycle helmet
A "dumb" helmet will protect your head. A smart bicycle helmet like Classon alerts you when cars are in your blindspot. Furthermore, it has motion activated brake and turn signals to make you more visible to others.
Learn more about Classon on Kickstarter.
5. Verizon hikes prizes, gets LeBron James and Enrique Iglesias to promote new data plans
Verizon, the nation’s largest wireless carrier, announced a big overhaul for its data plans. Long story short, you get more data by you also have to pay more. To promote its new data plans, Verizon rolled out several ads.
In one of them, LeBron James basically tells a kid it’s okay to stream videos instead of paying attention in school.
And in another Spanish-language ad, Enrique Iglesias is bit of a cockblock.
6. Call of Duty: Roman Wars, the game that never got released
GamesRadar uncovered a Call of Duty version that was set in Ancient Rome and featured stuff like a playable Julius Caesar, battle elephants, and tons of first-person sword combat.
Call of Duty: Roman Wars never got released. Activision CEO Bobby Kotick refused to use the Call of Duty brand on a game that was so different from the core series. And when the game was presented to Ubisoft as an original IP, Ubisoft wasn’t interested in picking it up.
7. For some people, Dark Souls III just isn’t hard enough
Dark Souls III is a difficult game to play, we all know that. But for some, like Twitch streamer FaraazKhan, it just isn’t difficult enough. FaraazKhan beat the game in about two and a half hours, without being hit, without using shields, bows, or magic, and without exploiting any glitches.
And to think that some people can’t even get past the first boss.
8. Here’s why PCs lose performance over time
It’s a well-known fact that PCs lose performance, that they get slower over time. But why is that? The video below takes a closer look at performance degradation and what causes it.
9. The affectionate robot pup that won’t make a mess
CHiP, WowWee’s lovable robot dog, takes all the nasty bits out of owning a dog. You don’t have to walk it, you don’t have to wash it, and you don’t have to clean up after it.
"CHiP is trainable, loyal & affectionate. He can recognize, obey, learn and wants to be your new best friend," says WowWee. "CHiP simulates interactions with a real dog: feels hungry, needs attention, loves to play, and goes to sleep."
CHiP starts shipping on August 30, 2016. You can pre-order it from Amazon for $199.99.
10. Margot Robbie presents the meaning behind Australian slang words
Margot Robbie, who plays Harley Quinn in the upcoming Suicide Squad movie, takes less than 4 minutes to explain what 50 Australian slang words mean.
So, just like the weeks before, I invite you to check out 10 news that will put a smile on your face, make you laugh, and probably even make you say wow or what the f...
1. Forget about fireworks, watch Cpt. Picard sing country music
Since 4th of July was the first day of the week, it’s only fitting that we start this article with some 4th of July related news. Here goes.
Patrick Stewart, known for portraying Captain Picard in Star Trek, put out a joke music album entitled Patrick Stewart’s Cowboy Classics. Here's the fun video that promotes the album.
Joking aside, you can actually get Patrick Stewart's 5-song sampler EP from CD Baby for $10. All proceeds will go to charity.
2. Twitch thinks you want to watch people eat
Twitch, the live streaming video platform for gamers, recently announced that it is experimenting with a new category called Social Eating. What is it? It’s a means for Twitch streamers to "socialize with their viewers over their favorite meals."
So basically, Social Eating is about watching Twitch streamers eat.
"Twitch is a firm believer in letting the community’s interests dictate the direction of our platform's content," said Raiford Cockfield, Director, APAC, Twitch. "In the case of Social Eating, we were getting a lot of demand from our Korean users given how this is a huge cultural phenomenon in their part of the world. We were also receiving feedback from our users who had embraced our platform's Creative category for cooking, but lamented they couldn't spend an equal amount of time eating what they prepared. While it is definitely a unique request, the Twitch community is nothing, if not unique, and we support their passion and interests."
3. Hillarymoji, a free keyboard app for Hillary Clinton supporters
Earlier this week, software developer Tanooki Suit released Hillarymoji, a free keyboard app for iOS that features several emoji of none other than presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
"With Hillarymoji, it’s easy to show your solidarity for Hillary, support the causes you believe in, and celebrate history in the making. And weekly emoji updates mean you won’t miss out on any of the highlights from the campaign trail,” says Tanooki Suit.
4. Meet Classon, a smart bicycle helmet
A "dumb" helmet will protect your head. A smart bicycle helmet like Classon alerts you when cars are in your blindspot. Furthermore, it has motion activated brake and turn signals to make you more visible to others.
Learn more about Classon on Kickstarter.
5. Verizon hikes prizes, gets LeBron James and Enrique Iglesias to promote new data plans
Verizon, the nation’s largest wireless carrier, announced a big overhaul for its data plans. Long story short, you get more data by you also have to pay more. To promote its new data plans, Verizon rolled out several ads.
In one of them, LeBron James basically tells a kid it’s okay to stream videos instead of paying attention in school.
And in another Spanish-language ad, Enrique Iglesias is bit of a cockblock.
6. Call of Duty: Roman Wars, the game that never got released
GamesRadar uncovered a Call of Duty version that was set in Ancient Rome and featured stuff like a playable Julius Caesar, battle elephants, and tons of first-person sword combat.
Call of Duty: Roman Wars never got released. Activision CEO Bobby Kotick refused to use the Call of Duty brand on a game that was so different from the core series. And when the game was presented to Ubisoft as an original IP, Ubisoft wasn’t interested in picking it up.
7. For some people, Dark Souls III just isn’t hard enough
Dark Souls III is a difficult game to play, we all know that. But for some, like Twitch streamer FaraazKhan, it just isn’t difficult enough. FaraazKhan beat the game in about two and a half hours, without being hit, without using shields, bows, or magic, and without exploiting any glitches.
And to think that some people can’t even get past the first boss.
8. Here’s why PCs lose performance over time
It’s a well-known fact that PCs lose performance, that they get slower over time. But why is that? The video below takes a closer look at performance degradation and what causes it.
9. The affectionate robot pup that won’t make a mess
CHiP, WowWee’s lovable robot dog, takes all the nasty bits out of owning a dog. You don’t have to walk it, you don’t have to wash it, and you don’t have to clean up after it.
"CHiP is trainable, loyal & affectionate. He can recognize, obey, learn and wants to be your new best friend," says WowWee. "CHiP simulates interactions with a real dog: feels hungry, needs attention, loves to play, and goes to sleep."
CHiP starts shipping on August 30, 2016. You can pre-order it from Amazon for $199.99.
10. Margot Robbie presents the meaning behind Australian slang words
Margot Robbie, who plays Harley Quinn in the upcoming Suicide Squad movie, takes less than 4 minutes to explain what 50 Australian slang words mean.
