Grumpy Cat Spoils Every Disney Movie

Grumpy Cat, queen of the internet memes, has been frequently used as part of the Disney Parks # Disney Side promotions and helped open Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. There are even rumors that she has her claws sunk into a Hollywood script.

Before Hollywood comes calling, perhaps they want to look at how Grumpy Cat has ruined every Disney movie she’s already been in. Artist Eric Procter has imagined these scenarios over on his DeviantArt page.

More movies grumpy cat could have ruined:

Read More

Mario Kart 8 quadrupled Wii U weekly sales, says Fils-Aime

Mario Kart 8 quadrupled Wii U weekly sales, says Fils-Aime

Looks like Mario Kart 8 was just what the doctor mechanic ordered for Nintendo's struggling Wii U; Nintendo of America president and COO Reggie Fils-Aime told Polygon that, compared to the week prior, Wii U sales quadrupled the week after the game's release.

Fils-Aime also noted that 18 percent of Wii U owners purchased a copy of the game in its first weekend, but this number likely includes sales of the game from the bundle that was offered upon release. Still, the numbers are nothing to sneeze at, as the game topped 1 million on release weekend, making it the fastest-selling Wii U game to date.

Now we wait to see which game for Nintendo's console, if any, will knock Mario Kart 8 out of first place with a well-timed blue shell.

Read More

Why Tim Cook Wants Apple To Make An iWatch

Why Tim Cook Wants Apple To Make An iWatch

This morning's NYT profile of Apple CEO Tim Cook touches on a topic bound to be of interest to anyone following the company — the iWatch.
Specifically, it says that "Mr. Cook appears to be interested in the smartwatch’s broader implications — for instance, that a watch might monitor heart rate and other vital measures, thus improving health and limiting doctor visits, according to these people."

An iWatch with health monitoring functionality would hardly be Apple's first dip in the health and wellness pond. We're already expecting the next version of the company's operating system for iPhones and iPads to include a health monitoring app called Healthbook, and at this year's WWDC, Apple executive Craig Federighi took the wraps off of HealthKit, a "hub" of sorts that can interact with data from other health- and fitness-related apps.

Apple SVP of Design, Jony Ive, appears to be the one largely heading up the iWatch effort, with Cook checking in occasionally: " Mr. Cook is less involved in the minutiae of product engineering for the watch, and has instead delegated those duties to members of his executive cabinet, including Mr. Ive, according to people involved in the project."

The article also reaffirms an iWatch launch date for Q4 this year

Read More

Chase Achievements with Xbox One's snappy July update

Chase Achievements with Xbox One's snappy July update:

Most of us have fallen for the allure of Xbox Achievements at some point since their arrival with the Xbox 360. If you're still incessantly bumping your Gamerscore, the Xbox One July update's inclusion of Achievement Snap should be up your alley – rather than stopping your game to check progress, you'll soon be able to track real-time achievement progression with a quick glance to the right side of your screen.

Conquering overly-vague achievement descriptions or challenging feats will also be a bit easier, thanks to a "Get Help" option that will be offered under whichever challenge a user has highlighted. Once clicked, the prompt searches the web for helpful links and videos. You can pin the Achievements they're focusing on at the top of the snapped app, too.

The update will also allow you to launch Snap Center by double-tapping a button. Unfortunately, the Xbox Wire announcement doesn't specify which button that is, and only suggests to "double-tap the button on your controller." If you've already got an app attached, the same double tap will switch between controlling the app and whichever game you're playing. Language options for players in New Zealand, Ireland and Austria will be another addition, with players in those regions soon being able to use the English and German voice models from other countries if they better suit their style of speech.

Users will also be able to "Like" Game DVR clips and posts in their SmartGlass activity feeds, but more interestingly, the update's description mentions support for future digital bundles and compilation discs. This is described as something to grant publishers "options for great digital bundle and disc compilation offerings," with the post suggesting that we'll see "more flexible combinations of game titles and game content" as the feature is tested. Sounds like something that could be used to bundle pieces of DLC or base games together, hopefully with the inclusion of a reasonable price tag. 

Read More

IMAX shows why its 4K camera could get you watching 3D movies againto

IMAX shows why its 4K camera could get you watching 3D movies again

Is 3D video on the decline, destined to return to the realm of novelty? Not if you ask IMAX. The company has just detailed a large-format 4K camera that could give 3D movies a (frankly needed) visual boost. The trick, the company says, is that the camera is fully integrated; since it doesn't need a beam splitter and separate lenses, it can stay compact while maintaining IMAX's dramatic 1.9:1 aspect ratio. That portability (less than half the weight of rivals) allows for fast-action shots that would otherwise be off-limits. The camera also saves video from just before the operator hits the record button, so documentary makers shouldn't miss unexpected moments.

If you're curious to see whether these grand-scale visuals are worth watching, you won't have to wait long. Explosion-loving director Michael Bay has already used IMAX's rig to shoot Transformers: Age of Extinction, and the nature doc Island of Lemurs: Madagascar also makes use of the technology. The new hardware won't make up for any lackluster storylines, but it might get you to splurge on a 3D viewing when you're otherwise on the fence.

Read More

X-rays reveal the mysteries of fire-ant rafts

X-rays reveal the mysteries of fire-ant rafts:

Fire ants may be famous for their vicious sting, but they're also remarkable builders, able to quickly assemble a working raft out of their own bodies and sail through dangerous flood waters. But their secrets of living masonry have remained shrouded from view.

Now, scientists have peered into the heart of such fire-ant rafts and discovered how the individual insects link together to create these remarkably strong yet lightweight structures. Such insight, described in a paper in the Journal of Experimental Biology, may one day help engineers build self-healing buildings and bridges.
The towers, bridges and boats that ants build are remarkable in part because they're strong and light and they adapt to their surroundings, and because ants are both the construction workers and the raw materials. Ants use their bodies like the beams in a building; instead of screwing or nailing those beams together, they reach out and touch each other.

"It's like their bodies are covered in Velcro," said study co-author David Hu, a mechanical engineer at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Researchers are just beginning to probe the complexity of ants' architectural designs. A recent study found that ants place their defenseless babies at the bottom of a raftto make it more buoyant overall.
But it's hard to see the complex internal structure of these rafts when all those ant bodies are blocking the view.

The researchers could instead use a CT scanner, which uses X-rays to look through the structure — but those are medical devices built for human scales, and the ants' legs are so thin that they can't be seen.
Instead, researchers at Georgia Tech managed to capture this complex structure using a micro CT scanner, which is typically used to image the tiny 3-D structure of bones. Scientists put 110 live ants in a beaker of water, swirled it around so they would start to form tiny rafts, flash-froze them in place and then examined them under the scanner. They did this four times, for a total of 440 ants and a total of 2,640 legs (given that each ant has six limbs).

They found, to their surprise, that 99 percent of the 2,640 legs had made a connection. Only 26 remained dangling. These ants sure knew how to get a grip on each other.
"We were surprised at how effective they are at finding links," Hu said. "We thought oh, maybe half the ants would be linked."

The scientists also found that the ants positioned themselves perpendicularly to their peers because it makes the raft more adaptable, allowing it to expand and contract when needed.

Not all ants were created equal. While most of the ants could have a maximum of five connections, some ants were about three times larger and could support 20 connections. With "more parking spots for little legs," as Hu put it, their enormous bodies acted as hubs for limbs. These structural nodes, where many beams in a structure converge on a single point, also exist in buildings as key points of strength.
Even though the ants were reaching out to their compatriots, they didn't hold them close they purposely kept them at arms' length. By creating these big spaces between each connected ant, the insects were effectively making their raft more porous, and thus less dense.
So even though an ant's body is denser than water, the rafts are only a fifth as dense and thus can easily float on the surface
.
"In some ways they're building a whole new kind of material," Hu said. "The individuals are just ants but how they're arranged affects its material properties."

The structure was quite a bit like bone in that way, Hu said: very porous and light, but still very strong.
Hu says they want to explore the structures of much larger ant clumps and towers. Those structures can include 10,000 to 100,000 ants, not just 110 at a time.

Self-healing buildings and ships, able to quickly respond to changes in their environment, may sound like technology from the future — or just straight out of science fiction.
But "from the ants' perspective, this is an ancient thing," Hu said.

Read More

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY :

Father's Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. Many countries celebrate it on the third Sunday of June, though it is also celebrated widely on other days by many other countries. Father's Day was created to complement Mother's Day, a celebration that honors mothers and motherhood.

Make your dad feel special this father's day 

Help dad enjoy the day.

 Perhaps you'll let him sleep in this morning, or perhaps you won't badger him over something you'd normally badger him over. Whatever it is, let it be his day. Some nice ways to start it include:

• Making your dad a breakfast in bed:
• Bringing him the newspaper to read in bed
• Making his favorite pot of coffee

Make it a family event.

 Father's Day is by nature a family event. Use this opportunity to get everyone in the family together for a fun day. Think about including all the dads in your family, not just your own father. Could your celebration include husbands, would-be future dads, your uncles, and brothers? If so, do it—the more the merrier! And don't forget step-fathers—they're important too. You don't have to remain at home; you could go to the beach, a local park, a favorite spot of dad's!

Consider building the celebration around an activity you all can enjoy

• Having a family picnic
• Enjoying a family barbecue
• Wacthing the world cup with your dad.

Be creative. 

When it comes to making gifts for Father's Day, perhaps steer clear of the traditional store-bought gifts of tie and socks. He's probably still got last year's socks stuffed at the back of the drawer. Expensive or typical gifts are not necessary, but the time and effort you put in to create a personalized tribute, will be deeply appreciated. Instead, let your own creative abilities shine and make him something special:

• Bake a cake
• Make his favorite dinner
• If you're artistically inclined, draw or paint a portrait of your dad from a favorite photo or from memory

Celebrate your shared experiences with your dad.

 Look at old photos of you and your dad doing fun things together. Take a walk down memory lane by creating either a photo albumor a photo slideshow. You may be surprised at how many things you both have forgotten about and how much they mean to you.

Acknowledge the importance of fatherhood.

 Being a father is a tough job. Dads are responsible for at least one half of the financial and emotional well-being of the family. A thoughtful card, a letter, or short speech that expresses your love will benefit both you and your dad. Giving dad a heartfelt speech, toast, or card of genuine, loving words at the dinner table, or at some other point when all the family are around (siblings especially), will make this a poignant occasion.

Make the day joyful for your dad .

 The most important aspect of the day is that you are present and attentive. It does not take material presents to make a dad happy—it takes showing your love, and reassuring your dad that you're proud of him and all he's done for you. For many fathers, the most rewarding part of being a father is feeling that your children love you, and the knowledge that each child is on a path to a successful future, no matter what age, and is coping well with the problems that life inevitably throws at us all.

End his "fun-filled day" by telling your father you love him.

•  Don't forget his hug 

Read More

36 Cute & Affordable Bags

36 Cute & Affordable Bags:

Whether you’re already back on campus or are still packing up all your stuff, there’s one thing that every college student needs before heading to class: the perfect bag! Between all of the textbooks, school supplies and other random things required throughout the day, every college girl needs a practical, stylish and not-too-expensive bag to carry all of her essentials.

Still looking for that perfect bag to carry your textbooks in style? Scroll on down to check out our round-up of cute and affordable backpacks, totes and messenger bags for back-to-school:

Believe it or not, backpacks are actually going to be super-trendy this season! However, we’re not talking your basic, run-of-the-mill backpacks here. Ever since Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s fashion line The Row debuted a $39,000 crocodile skin backpack, luxe knapsacks have been having a major fashion moment.

Aside from being stylish, a backpack is also perfect for lugging lots of heavy items across campus. Plus, with all of the adorable backpacks in stores now, it’s never been easier to find a style that fits your personal aesthetic.

Does a backpack sound like the perfect school bag for you? Stand out in a sea of JanSport and L.L. Bean with one of these stylish picks below:

Top: Zip-Front Canvas Backpack – YesStyle, Plaid Backpack – Target, Hitchhiker Convertible Bag – Nasty Gal, Baja Blanket Backpack – Urban Outfitters

Middle: Floral Canvas Backpack – ASOS, Canvassing Backpack in Uptown – ModCloth, Striped Deux Lux Backpack – Urban Outfitters, Canvas Rucksack – Urban Outfitters

Bottom: Polka Dot Backpack – VS Pink, Aztec Print Backpack – ASOS, Volcom Fright Night Backpack – Buckle, American Living Logan Backpack - JCPenney

Trendy Totes:

Tote bags are always popular among college-aged girls because they’re both cute and functional. The perfect tote can instantly make any outfit look über-chic and can be a great way to show off your personal style.

The only downside is that these bags aren’t extremely roomy and can’t handle heavy loads the same way a backpack can. On the plus side, though, a tote can work double duty as a go-to bag to carry around when you aren’t in class, so you’re likely to get a lot of bang for your buck!

There are tons of options out there when it comes to size, material, color and pattern, so hopefully you’ll find a tote that fits your personal style below:

Top: Madeline Tote – JCPenney, Rope Print Tote – Urban Outfitters, Wisdom by Winston Tote – ModCloth,  Linea Pelle Purple Tote – Target

Middle: Dark Elm Takeaway Tote – J. Crew, Black Floral Antique Shopper – Topshop, Hey Jute Leopard Tote –Nine West, Rachel Roy Japan Tote – Zappos Couture

Bottom: Utility Canvas Bag – Forever 21, Raspberry Shopper Tote – American Eagle Outfitters, Tribal Tote Bag – PacSun, Pocket-Front Tote – ASOS

Must-Have Messenger Bags:

Messenger bags represent the middle-ground between the first two styles: they have all the practicality of a roomy backpack, with a similar style to a tote. These bags are also a classic, meaning they’ll never go out of style. So, invest in a good messenger bag and you’ll have a durable and stylish choice for years to come.

Looking for a cool messenger bag to carry around campus? Here are some of our favorites:

Top: Two-Tone Messenger Bag – Zara, Teal Flap Satchel – American Eagle Outfitters, Harajuku Lovers Fluorescent Black Bag – Zappos, Ossington Greene Messenger Bag – Endless

Middle: Vintage Canvas Medic Bag – Amazon, Edith Messenger Bag – Macy’s, Buckled Messenger Bag –Zara, Berkeley Messenger Bag – Macy’s

Bottom: Red Leather Messenger Bag – Zara, Black Poppy Messenger Bag – PacSun, Canvas Messenger Bag – H&M, Natural Linen Messenger Bag – Debenhams

Read More

A Brand New Pokemon Trailer from Nintendo has Arrived

A Brand New Pokemon Trailer from Nintendo has Arrived!

This Pokemon adventure is heading to you from Nintendo! Prepare your 2DS and 3DS systems, because this one has been a long time coming.

fall, a brand new

It’s been eleven years since Pokemon Ruby and Pokemon Sapphire broke out onto the scene, and now the two games are getting a highly-anticipated makeover. And with Mega versions of your favorite monsters, Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are two games that you’ll definitely want to pick up this holiday season.

Nintendo dropped a brand new trailer at E3 this year, and it showcases a ton of new features. Check out the trailers for yourself, and let us know what you think of Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire!

Read More

Taylor Swift’s Interesting Facts

:Taylor Swift’s Interesting Facts"

See if you already know these following Taylor Swift’s Interesting Facts:

• Her full name is Taylor Alison Swift.
• Her mom named her Taylor so that when people saw her name on a business card, you wouldn’t guess if she is male or female

• Taylor was born December 13, 1989 in Reading, Pennsylvania.

• She is an award-winning poet! Taylor writes about the people and things that give her a hard time. Her poem “Monster in My Closet” won a national competition.

• Her father owns 3% of her record label Big Machine Records.

• When she was 12 years old, Taylor spent her summer writing a 350-page novel. The novel is finished and is even ready to be printed.
• Taylor’s grandmother was an accomplished opera singer.
• Taylor said she would not get a permanent tattoo. She does not believe in committing to a symbol for the rest of her life.

• Taylor’s family owned a Shetland pony and quarter horses. She learned English riding and, as a kid, competed in horse shows.

• She does voice acting too. She played a role as Audrey in the animated movie The Lorax.
• She is almost blind. She needs to wear contact lenses or really big eyeglasses.

• She is a close friend of Selena Gomez.
• Taylor wants to write an autobiography in the future.
• After three accidents on the road, driving scares her now.
• The number 13 is Taylor Swift’s lucky number.
• She wants to work in forensics if she was not a famous singer.

• She loves sunscreens.
• She gets attached to places.
• Taylor admits that she is very clumsy.
• Being in the medical field was the last thing in her mind when it comes to profession.

• She is fascinated with psychology and learning about personality types. She admits that she can be moody at times.
• She is an American history nerd. She claims to know facts from the Pilgrims up to the American Civil War.
• She like places near the ocean.
• Screaming fans is her favorite sound.

• Taylor cried when a fan told her that she named her baby after the singer. It happened at a Fearless concert

Read More

Minecraft on PS4 supports touchpad, will be followed by Sony-specific DLCmi

"Minecraft on PS4 supports touchpad, will be followed by Sony-specific DLC"

Minecraft won't finish a bridge to PS4, Vita and Xbox One until August, but a PlayStation Blog update lends a few more details about what we can expect from the port to Sony's latest home console.

We were previously told that world sizes would be "a lot bigger" on newer consoles, but this update offers specifics: you'll have 36 times the space for flagship construction sites on the PS4 than you did on the PS3. You can consider the DualShock 4's touchpad as a new tool in your inventory as well, since 4J Studios is implementing optional support for its use with crafting or menu navigation.

The PS4 version will offer eight-player online play, with a single PS4 being capable of hosting up to four players via splitscreen. Minecraft's PS4 debut will also be followed by "a bunch of Sony-specific DLC coming soon after release."

As a reminder, saves will be transferable from the PS3 and Xbox 360, so you can keep flexing your creative architectural muscles without worrying about starting over. When the PS4 and Xbox One  builds arrive in August, you'll be able to upgrade from digital versions for $4.99. Alternatively, PlayStation users can stick with the PS3 and get access to the Vita version for free.

Mojang would like to offer discounts to those spinning disc-based versions of Minecraft as well, but since the post notes that that's "proving a bit trickier to set up," we'll have to wait for more info to see whether that's possible. 

Read More

Toyota's LED-lit concept car lets your kids customize the hood

Toyota's LED-lit concept car lets your kids customize the hood

If you complained about your family's drab-looking car when you were a kid, you're going to love the latest incarnation of Toyota's Camatte concept. The vehicle lets children (and creative adults) customize the look by translating their drawings to nearly 7,000 LED lights on the hood; you could change styles at a moment's notice without having to swap panels (as with the 2012 Camatte) or break out some paint. There's no word on the possibility of this technology reaching production models, although we wouldn't count on it in the near future -- even if higher energy consumption isn't a factor, a light-up hood could get quite expensive. Still, Camatte raises hope that cars will one day be as unique as their drivers.

Read More