Ivy Esquero

À l’occasion de la Journée mondiale de l’ours blanc qui a eu lieu le 27 février, le site BoredPanda a compilé d’adorables clichés d’oursons évoluant dans la banquise aux côtés de leur mère. Ces images pleines de tendresse et de malice nous rappellent, une fois de plus, à quel point la nature est belle et fragile et combien il est indispensable d’agir pour la préserver du réchauffement climatique.

Neutral colors, natural materials, and minimal elements define the Danish hygge concept.

Whether or not hygge is here to stay is anyone’s guess, but there can be no doubt that this Danish concept, which includes a contemporary interior design esthetic, is most definitely here. Somewhat nebulous by definition, hygge (pronounced who-guh, and loosely translated from the Danish as ‘cozy’) or hyggelig has Scandinavia written all over it—which is to say, it endorses restraint, tranquility, and community, and, as such, is wholly inviting to those of us inhabiting a considerably less tranquil culture. Lately, spreading the word on hygge has become something of a winter design obsession, yielding an endless stream of casually attractive vignettes, replete with chunky blankets, hot cups of cocoa, springs of herbs, and loads of all-around homespun goodness.

Hand applied workmanship and textured layers are essential to hygge, exemplified by casually draped chunky knitted blankets.

Home—or, more accurately, refuge—is, in fact, a key component of hygge, no doubt owing to Denmark’s interminable winters, and how little incentive they provide to leave home. Staying in, pulling close, and keeping the elements at bay all work together neatly to foster home-bound indulgences, like textural richness,  home cooked meals, the flicker of candlelight, and the kind of down home visual elegance we normally (and enviably) associate with Scandinavia. In other words, separating hygge from what we’ve come to associate with Denmark’s esthetic tradition is very nearly impossible.

Humble, non-digital indulgences, like a perfectly brewed cup of tea and thoughtfully chosen accoutrements, illustrate the art of hygge.

Not surprisingly, though the origins of hygge are a bit deeper than the current craze belies, speaking to something more emotional and cultural than purely visual, and extending beyond the home to overall social connectivity. “When Danes say that a social gathering is hyggelig, it also means that no one will discuss opposite opinions about politics, the economic development, or raising children,” says social anthropologist and hygge expert, Jeppe Trolle Linnet. “Conflicts or conflicting opinions are not perceived as hyggelig. Should someone disagree on a subject and a discussion start, you can be sure that it will be put to an end with a quick remark.”

A muted color palette, wool carpet, faux fur accessories, and fresh flowers make for a calm snapshot of hygge.

Modern design trends, however, tap into something a bit more immediate, and the current fixation on hygge offers a timely excuse for combating the coldest months with sumptuous blankets and hot tea, infusing dark days with the golden glow of candles, and ditching digital devices for simple analog pleasures. If all this sounds suspiciously like good old winter common sense—and looks a whole lot like plain old Nordic good taste—to you, it does to us, too. But, hey, we can think of worse things than pouring over beautifully composed home interiors during long winter evenings.

Credits: Your Danish Life, H. Skjalm P., Ohhio, Elle Decoration UK, OhEgihtOhNine

Franc Grom est un artiste slovène très minutieux qui réalise de magnifiques sculptures sur des oeufs. Il sculpte la coquille avec une perceuse très fine et beaucoup de patience. Chaque création est composée de milliers de petit trous pour offrir de magnifiques dentelles, qui dévoilent toutes leur beauté une fois éclairées.

Avid trackers of Santa Claus’ progress traveling the globe have a new avenue to keep an eye on Saint Nick’s progress this week: Amazon’s digital brain Alexa.

Here’s how it works, according to travel company Kayak, which built the new Santa tracking ability into its Alexa skill: “Simply start by saying to Alexa, ‘Alexa, ask Kayak to track Santa.’ Using a combination of navigation software, algorithms and insider-elf intelligence from North Pole Central Command, Alexa uses Kayak’s Flight Tracker to pinpoint Kris Kringle’s location during his holiday flight.”

Users can ask when Santa is coming to their location or pick a specific city. Unfortunately, for people who procrastinated on their letters this year, Alexa can’t pass messages directly to him.

Santa tracking is big business these days. NORAD is the originator, tracking Santa for more than 60 years. Tech giants like Google are now keeping an eye on the jolly one’s progress as well. Thanks to Zillow, we even know his home is valued at close to $657,000 and sits on 25 acres and features old-world charm and modern-day amenities, thanks to a 2013 remodel.

L’année 2016 a dévoilé des projets architecturaux importants, focalisés en particulier sur le développement de centres culturels à l’international. Les meilleurs studios d’architecture du monde ont exploré les nouvelles technologies, inspirés par des formes futuristes et modernes, se voulant proches de l’humain et des citoyens. Du renommé studio italien Fuksas à l’incroyable Zaha Hadid Architects, en passant par des noms comme OMA, voici une sélection des projets les plus sensationnels de l’année.

Rhike Park Music Theater and Exhibition Hall by Fuksas / Photographer : Joel Rookwood

Elbphilharmonie by Herzog & de Meuron / Photographer : Maxim Schulz

King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture by SNØHETTA / Photographer : Saudi Aramco

Schaudepot Vitra Campus by Herzog & de Meuron / Photographer : Julien Lanoo

Nanjing International Youth Culture by Zaha Hadid Architects / Photographer : Khoo Guo Jie / Béton Brut

Faena Forum by OMA / Photographer : Iwan Baan

Mocape by Coop Himmelb(L)au / Photographer : Duccio Malagamba

Eur Convention Center by Fuksas / Photographer : Moreno Maggi

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center by Renzo Piano / Photographer : Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Taipei Performing Arts Center by OMA / Photographer : Chris Stowers

via : DesignBoom

Uber’s rapid growth has continued this year, even after deciding to leave China, but so has its losses.

The ride-hailing giant has lost more than $2.2 billion in the first nine months of the year, including more than $800 million in the third quarter, according to a report from Bloomberg. For the year, Uber’s losses could total more than $3 billion. Despite the losses, Uber remains the most valuable privately-held tech company in the world, according to CB Insights, with a valuation of $69 billion.

Uber has reportedly lost at least $4 billion in its four-year history, including $2 billion last year. A big part of that was the company’s attempt to take down the competition in China. In July, Uber merged its China business with Didi Chuxing, the country’s top ride-hailing company, after a fierce battle. As a result of backing off in China, Uber got a 17 percent stake in the newly-combined company and a $1 billion investment from Didi. Uber has reportedly lost more than $2 billion on its China business in two years.

Uber’s net revenue, the amount it brings in after paying drivers, has grown steadily throughout the year. After three quarters, that figure is about $3.7 billion, with $1.7 billion of that coming in the third quarter.

The total fares paid by riders continues to rise as well, but that growth has slowed. That is not much of a surprise after Uber made the decision to leave the world’s most populous country. Bookings were at $5.4 billion in the third quarter, up from $5 billion in the second quarter and $3.8 billion in the first, Bloomberg reported.

Previous reports have indicated another big drag on Uber’s balance sheets comes from the costly price wars it is waging with competitors like Lyft and the subsidies it is paying drivers to make up for lost income due to reduced prices.

The ride-hailing giant is also making a big bet on the potential of driverless cars and trucks. Uber began testing driverless cars in Pittsburgh earlier this year and then brought them to San Francisco. Using technology created by Otto, a company that Uber purchased last summer, the first driverless truck delivery was made in October.

Uber’s chief competitor Lyft is reportedly spending big to catch up with Uber and taking significant losses as a result. Lyft claims it has a positive impact on the cities where it operates, and the company recently released a report saying it generated an additional $35.1 million for the Seattle economy this year.

Microsoft this morning announced a new feature for its Translator program that will let people use their smartphones to have conversations in several languages at the same time.

The update works with one-on-one conversations or in a situation where a multitude of languages are being used; for example, one person speaking English, another Spanish, and a third person Chinese. Microsoft is pitching the new tool as a great option for tour guides talking to people all over the world, to taxi drivers and hotels that get a lot of international guests.

“At the end of the day, our goal is breaking the language barrier,” Olivier Fontana, director of product strategy for Microsoft Translator, said in a blog post.

The service is available via the Microsoft Translator app, and it also has a dedicated website. After signing in, users pick their language and start a new conversation. That generates a code and QR code that others can scan to enter the conversation and then set their language.

Like a walkie-talkie, a speaker pushes a button to talk, and then a few seconds later a translation pops up on the participants’ devices in their chosen language. Microsoft said audible translation is available in some languages but didn’t specify which ones.

Microsoft says it is still working to improve its translation abilities.

“Is the quality perfect? No. Is the setup totally seamless? No. But really, once you get set up, you have a universal translator experience amongst multiple people talking in multiple languages,” Fontana said.

Breaking down communication barriers has been a big priority at Microsoft for years. Recently, the company has picked up a lot of momentum in that area. Last year, Microsoft built its real-time language translation tool directly into Skype for Windows PCs. Then this spring, Microsoft put out an update to Microsoft Translator that allows users to download entire languages for offline translations.

All of this is powered by what Microsoft characterized as a”deep neural network,” a form of machine learning. Microsoft has trained algorithms using translated documents to see how words and phrases are represented in different languages, improving the ability to translate in a conversational manner.

The U.S. Department of Transportation today laid out its proposal for enabling cars and light trucks to connect to each other wirelessly. The technology, known as vehicle-to-vehicle communications or V2V, is expected to speed up the push toward autonomous vehicles.

The department said the system could prevent hundreds of thousands of crashes every year.

“We are carrying the ball as far as we can to realize the potential of transportation technology to save lives,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a news release. “This long-promised V2V rule is the next step in that progression.  Once deployed, V2V will provide 360-degree situational awareness on the road and will help us enhance vehicle safety.”

The proposed rule would require automakers to include V2V technologies in all new light-duty vehicles, and require them to “speak the same language” through a standardized wireless messaging system developed in cooperation with the auto industry.

V2V devices would use dedicated short-range communications, or DSRC, to transmit data about location, direction and speed to vehicles within about 1,000 feet. The data would be updated and broadcast up to 10 times a second. Using that information, V2V-equipped vehicles can identify risks and provide warnings to avoid imminent crashes.

The technology could come into play for driving functions such as collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control, and provide warnings about tricky maneuvers such as two-lane passing and turns into oncoming traffic. A fully realized V2V safety system could have headed off the widely publicized collision that killed a Tesla Autopilot driver in May.

One oft-mentioned application for V2V is “platooning,” which involves linking multiple cars or trucks together wirelessly for highway travel at a uniform speed, increasing traffic efficiency in the process.

The Transportation Department said its proposed rule calls for extensive privacy and security controls in any V2V device. But Public Knowledge, an advocacy group focusing on communication issues, took issue with that claim.

In a statement, Public Knowledge policy fellow John Gasparini said the department’s proposed set of rules “does not examine the grave threat posed by connecting secure DSRC technology to the demonstrably insecure modern car.”

Another point yet to be resolved is whether the 5.9 GHz radio spectrum, which was set aside for V2V use years ago, can be opened up for Wi-Fi use as well. Doing so would complicate the questions about privacy and security.

The notice of proposed rulemaking will be open for public comment for 90 days. The department is expected to issue a final rule after taking the feedback into account.

Le photographe Rotasız Seyyah a travaillé sur un projet humain, déroutant par sa simplicité et sensibilité. « You Are So Beautiful » est une série réalisée pendant un voyage de 1001 jours autour du globe avec un objectif très particulier : photographier l’instant où il disait à ses modèles qu’ils étaient magnifiques. Chaque sujet se décline en deux photos, la première montre une expression de gêne face à la caméra, alors que dans la deuxième, les personnes photographiées sourient en dépassant la peur de l’objectif. Un projet très touchant ayant comme objectif de rappeler à quel point il est important de complimenter et prendre soin des personnes qui nous entourent.

Le photographe russe Andy Seliverstoff immortalise d’adorables portraits mettant en scène des enfants accompagnés de leur chien protecteur et de grande taille. De jolies pauses  remplies de tendresse et d’humour tant la complicité entre les animaux et leurs petits maîtres semble grande. Des scènes dignes des films et dessins animés de notre enfance.

La jeune designer Veega Tankun est fraîchement diplômée de l’Université de Brighton. Néanmoins, elle a déjà une maîtrise exceptionnelle des règles de l’esthétique et de la notion d’innovation. Avec cette chaise, son objectif était de transformer l’objet traditionnel en quelque chose de jamais vu, d’excitant et de percutant. Elle a alors poussé l’idée de la simple chaise plus loin, pour en imaginer une oversize, faite d’une natte en laine démesurée. Avec ce travail, Tankun semble vouloir exalter la fonction primaire de l’objet en l’exagérant partant du simple postulat qu’une chaise est faite pour être confortable.

In recent weeks, you’ve likely seen little cards at the top of your Facebook News Feed reminding you about the supermoon or wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving.

Today, Facebook is formalizing the program “to invite people to share and talk about events and moments that are happening in their communities and around the world.”

Facebook calls it a marketing initiative, which could signal plans to sell the placement as an advertising down the road. But the company told TechCrunch the spot will not be available to sponsors.

For now, the social network is using the messages to drive engagement. The program is kicking off with 18 custom holiday cards that users can share with their friends.

The video below shows how the holiday cards work:

The feature is somewhat competitive with Twitter Moments, a feature that the 140-character platform rolled out in early 2016 to connect people around world events.

“This is just the beginning and we’ll continue to work to make these messages better for our community around the world,” Facebook says.

Rodents aren't going away despite the hard work put in by cats and exterminators, and even though most humans hate rats and mice there are those among us who genuinely love the critters we so callously refer to as "vermin".

#bergsgatan #kebabhouse #möllan #anonymouse_mmx #anonymouse #Disney #thegreatmousedetective #therescuers #anamericantail #donbluth #streetart

A photo posted by AnonyMouse (@anonymouse_mmx) on Dec 7, 2016 at 1:24am PST

In fact, a street art group calling themselves AnonyMouse like rodents so much they're trying to make Malmö, Sweden more rodent friendly- by opening up a mouse-sized Italian café.

#anonymouse #anonymouse_mmx #Malmö #möllan

A photo posted by AnonyMouse (@anonymouse_mmx) on Nov 22, 2016 at 3:16pm PST

The café is called Il Tupolino (Mickey Mouse) and it features outdoor seating, a cute little striped awning in the front and a temperamental chef inside the building...which the mice can't actually enter, since it's a diorama.

ENGLISH BELOW. Invigningen av restaurangen Il Topolino möttes av ett något större tryck än beräknat. Det var kul men lämnade ett visst slitage på lokalerna, så under kvällen valde vi att hålla stängt för lättare renovering. (det kan ha funnits en incident med en kock och dåligt dragna ledningar). Men nu är vi åter på plats igen och välkomnar lagom till frukosten. ###### The grand opening of Il topolino was met with a slightly larger interest than anticipated. Its been good fun by also resulted in a bit of a wear on the inventory, so this afternoon we were forced to shut down temporarely (there might have been an incident with a chef and some loose wiring). Anyways, we're back again, just in time for breakfast! Cheese out! #anonymouse

A photo posted by AnonyMouse (@anonymouse_mmx) on Dec 11, 2016 at 9:27pm PST

But the adorable little café is situated next door to the darling nuttery Noix de Vie (Nuts of Life), where walnuts hang like roasted ducks in the window to tantalize any hungry mice that walk by.

#anonymouse_mmx @anonymouse #möllan

A photo posted by AnonyMouse (@anonymouse_mmx) on Nov 25, 2016 at 5:05pm PST

-Via Laughing Squid

Starbucks, meet “The Simpsons.”

The Seattle-based coffee giant today unveiled its first-ever animated series, co-written by “The Simpsons” writers Joel Cohen, John Frink and Rob LaZebnik.

Called 1st and Main, the seven-episode series features cartoon animals that hang out in a Starbucks store. The writers came up with the idea after working out of a Starbucks in Los Angeles and coming across interesting moments. They approached Starbucks, and this show is the end result.

The first episode will debut Friday at starbucks.com/1standmain. The episodes, which will air weekly, run about 90 seconds each. Here’s a teaser.

This is Starbucks’ second foray into original media content. In September, the company launched its first-ever original content series called “Upstanders” that consists of short stories, videos and podcasts that tell stories about Americans that are doing good for their community.

1st and Main certainly has a different, lighter feel than Upstanders and is more closely related to the Starbucks brand. It also builds off the fact that Starbucks stores have become meeting spots and a gathering place for customers.

The company says the characters are inspired by real-life baristas and customers. Here’s a character list for 1st and Main, with descriptions from Starbucks.

• Chet (beaver), a building contractor and a regular customer who knows everyone at his store
• Diego: A hipster cat barista/artist. He’s passionate about his art and creating the perfect beverage, every time.
• Gord: He’s a trainer at the local gym who loves Skinny Mochas and Protein Bistro Boxes.
• Julie (bear): The store’s manager and matriarch. She’s an extrovert who loves working with people.
• Iggy: An octopus, and a newly-hired barista.
• Chloe: A rabbit getting used to a new town and new school.
• Alexa: A slightly neurotic beagle who’s working on her first novel and loves having the community of Starbucks around her.
• Sasha: She’s a 20-something Giraffe paramedic dedicated to helping creatures great and small.

Let’s face it, global e-commerce takes some of the magic out of gift giving. Visiting a loved one’s Amazon wishlist, selecting an item of appropriate value, and having it wrapped and delivered for you lacks some of the charm of gifting traditions of yore.

So this holiday season, we’re humbly suggesting an alternative. Pick up a gift from a local artisan or maker instead. (Yes, Amazon is technically a Seattle company but you know what we mean).

This is an annual GeekWire tradition originally begun by former GeekWire columnist Monica Guzman. (Check out previous local gift guides here and here.) We received a large number of submissions in response to our post last week, and below, we’ve rounded up our recommendations for 12 great — and geeky — gifts made by locals in Seattle and the Northwest.

Venture Kits: $25

Seattle mom and tech exec Leslie Feinzaig created Venture Kits to get kids excited about entrepreneurship through play. Each kit comes with comes with everything a child needs to be the CEO of their own small venture. Currently, the startup is selling “Treats to Go,” a kit to start a bakery and “Art Auction,” which helps kids make and sell art.

The Olympic Backpack by Poros: $149

The Olympic Backpack, by Seattle’s Poros, has a built-in charging system that can power-up devices on the go. The bag includes a padded laptop sleeve and a charging package with a dedicated lightning connector or micro USB jack, plus an additional open connector. It also comes with the ringing endorsement of GeekWire’s Kurt Schlosser, who carries the backpack every day.

Factory 43 T-Shirt: $32

In the Seattle tech world, you can’t have too many t-shirts — but you can have too few. Consider expanding the wardrobe of a geek in your life with this “Under Control Tee.” Factory 43 makes apparel, posters, and other items, all printed at the company’s Seattle HQ.

Knack Signature Bordeaux & Truffles Gift Set: $186

Knack, a Seattle company that helps customers create custom gift boxes, is offering a special wine and truffle set with local products. The Bordeaux, available exclusively to wine club members or through Knack, is from Washington’s Betz Family Winery. The set also includes chocolate truffles from Bellingham’s Forte Artisan Chocolates and two handblown wine glasses from Seattle-based De Cicio Artisan Glass.

Fort Boards: $60-$125

Fort Boards make a perfect present for the imaginative child. With just one kit, kids can build playhouses, forts, rocket ships, or anything else the can imagine. The fort-building kits were designed by August Graube, who used to build exhibits for museums. Fort Boards took home the $20,000 prize in Microsoft’s annual small business contest earlier this year.

Paleo Baking Company: $9

This gift is for the health-conscious home cook. Paleo Baking Company, a small upstart in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood, is selling a line of paleo and gluten-free baking mixes. Each mix just has four main ingredients — coconut flour, hazelnut flour, baking soda, and salt. The mixes are available via Paleo Baking Company’s e-commerce platform with free shipping and are also sold in West Coast Whole Foods stores.

BedPak: $89

The BedPak is a backpack that converts into a sleeping pad to simplify travel. The bag is a standard carry-on size, with seven built-in compartments. Claudia Hall, a Bellingham, Wash. resident, got the idea for BedPak when she was forced to spend the night in an airport after a canceled flight.

2bar Bourbon: $26-$48

This truly is a Pacific Northwest Bourbon. 2bar’s signature spirit is the first bourbon made using all local grains. The liquor is 95 percent Washington grain and five percent Oregon grain. It is distilled and bottled in Seattle SoDo neighborhood. 2bar’s founder, Nathan Kaiser, has a microbiology degree from the University of Washington and a long history working with startups. Before 2bar, he served as COO for Seattle’s Blue Box Group.

Five Ply Design Graphic Coasters: $32

These hardwood graphic coasters combine form and function. They make a great stocking stuffer or a stylish addition to your holiday party. The coasters are designed and constructed in Seattle, using only materials sourced in the U.S. They can be purchased online or at Five Ply’s studio in Chinatown.

Coffee Cuffs: $6

These cute coffee accessories would make great stocking stuffers for your eco-conscious friends and family. They’re reusable, they insulate cold and hot beverages, and they won’t break the bank. They also come in a variety of geeky prints, from Star Wars to superheroes to math equations. Coffee Cuffs are made by Sultan, Wash.’s Chelsea Johansen.

Tousled Gift Certificate: $36-$175

Busy moms will appreciate this one. Tousled is a Seattle startup that provides on-demand beauty services, like haircuts and massages. Customers can book appointments via a smartphone app and the beauty professional will come them.

Players Make Plays Beast Quake Hoodie: $75

Players Make Plays is a clothing line launched by Gibran Hamdan, a former backup quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks. Hamdan was inspired to create graphic tees, hoodies, and other apparel by play diagrams from the game. We’re recommending the Beast Quake Hoodie, inspired by the 2011 Wild Card round game between the Seahawks and the Saints, for all those Hawks fans out there.

Godspeed, John Glenn.

The first American to go into orbit, and the first astronaut to become a senator and presidential candidate, died today in Ohio at the age of 95.

The Columbus Dispatch reported that Glenn was surrounded by family, including his wife Annie, at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center when he died.

President Barack Obama said that with Glenn’s passing, “our nation has lost an icon, and Michelle and I have lost a friend.”

“John always had the right stuff, inspiring generations of scientists, engineers and astronauts who will take us to Mars and beyond — not just to visit, but to stay,” Obama said in a statement.

Glenn made history as one of NASA’s original Mercury 7 on Feb. 20, 1962, when he circled the planet three times. That mission followed up on Soviet astronaut Yuri Gagarin’s first-ever orbital flight in 1961 and two U.S. suborbital spaceflights, setting the stage for America to get into the race to the moon in earnest.

Glenn’s mission was memorable not only for its technical achievements, but also for its cultural impact. An estimated 100 million television viewers watched as his Mercury-Atlas rocket rose from the pad and fellow astronaut Scott Carpenter, stationed at Mission Control for the flight, said “Godspeed, John Glenn.”

Minutes after blastoff, Glenn marveled at the experience. “Zero-G and I feel fine. … Oh, that view is tremendous!” he said.

Glenn’s orbital mission, and the drama that unfolded when mission controllers weren’t sure whether Glenn could come home safely, have become central pieces of space lore in books and films ranging from “The Right Stuff” to the soon-to-be-released movie “Hidden Figures.”

The flight confirmed Glenn, a straight-arrow Marine veteran who flew combat missions during World War II and the Korean War, as an American hero for the Space Age. But he was judged too important as a space icon to fly again during the glory days of the moon race. Instead, he went into politics and represented Ohio, his native state, as a U.S. senator from 1974 to 1999.

He ran for president in 1984 but lost the Democratic nomination to Walter Mondale.

In the waning days of his Senate career, Glenn was chosen to fly on the space shuttle as part of a study on the effects of aging and the parallels to spaceflight. His selection served in part as an act of gratitude from NASA.

“I felt America owed John Glenn a second flight,” said Dan Goldin, who was NASA’s administrator at the time.

When Glenn launched on the shuttle Discovery in 1998 at the age of 77, he became the oldest human ever to go into space.

Since leaving the Senate, Glenn has served as a sage on public policy and the space effort. He lobbied NASA to keep the space shuttle fleet flying, and bemoaned its retirement in 2011.

“Why terminate a perfectly good system that has been made more safe and reliable through its many years of development?” Glenn asked.

For virtually all of his life, Glenn enjoyed unusually good health, even into his 90s. But this week, word emerged that he was being hospitalized, signaling that the end was near. The cause of death was not reported immediately.

Glenn was the last of the Mercury 7 astronauts to pass away, marking the end of an era. And the tributes that spread via Twitter reflected that fact:

L’artiste graphique islandais Hugleikur Dagsson parodie des chansons cultes à travers des dessins minimalistes et amusants, qui interprètent les textes au pied de la lettre. Un travail cynique, un brin désinvolte, et indéniablement empreint d’humour noir.

In the newly refurbished rotunda of London’s Tate Britain, an upside-down Christmas tree installation by artist Shirazeh Houshiary.

London’s gone mad for Christmas trees. How else to explain what’s happneing all over town with evergreens—namely, a trio of festive installations that pay homage to the pine tree in ways best described as unusual.

To begin with, there’s the Tate Britain’s upside down Christmas tree, an installation by the Iranian-born artist Shirazeh Houshiary, currently on view in the gallery’s refurbished rotunda. Centered and held aloft by wires, the tree is natural and unadorned, save its roots, which, having been given a gold-dipped makeover, remain the installation’s falshiest and most ornamental part. Explains the artist, “I would like us to contemplate that the pine tree is one of the oldest species and recognize the roots are the source of its continued stability, nourishment and longevity,” Houshiary, a celebrated sculptor, continues a Tate tradition of artist-commissioned Christmas tree interpretations—a tradition started in 1988, and put on hold in 2013 as a massive renovation project commenced. Tate Britain’s Director, Alex Farquharson, is pleased. “This tree fits the new space perfectly, allowing a different generation to experience the majesty of Houshiary’s work in the striking setting of the new entrance and staircase.”

In the lobby of London’s Claridige’s hotel, a Christmas Tree installation by designers Jony Ive and Marc Newson greet visitors.

Across town in tony Mayfair, the Claridge’s hotel lobby has been given over to an immersive Christmas tree experience created by Apple’s design gurus, Jony Ive and Marc Newson. “Our aim was to create an all-enveloping magical experience that celebrates our enormous respect for tradition while recognizing our excitement about the future and things to come,” say the designers. To that end, Ive and Newson leverage both mother nature and modern technology for their seasonal installation: an ethereal forest of real birch trees, glowing boxes of photographed birch trees, artificial snow, and an orchestra of colored lights, all of which converge for a moody, magical tableau which visitors can traverse for a fleeeting few weeks.

British artist Alex Chinneck has created a sculpture that appears to show a Christmas tree ensconced in a block of ice.

Elsewhere in London—in the city’s King’s Cross neighborhood, to be exact—British artist Alex Chinneck has created another art piece in which a Christmas Tree figures prominently. Fighting Fire with Ice Cream is, in typical Chinneck fashion, an optical illusion in which a real Christmas tree, measuring 17 feet high, appears to be encased in a huge block of ice. The ice, in question, however, is actually a carved resin sculpture into which the tree is ensconced, and the melted section at the installation’s bottom is fashioned from wax. Explains the artist, “I was thinking about a seasonally relevant material and landed on the idea, like a fly-in-an-ice-cube.”

Via Dezeen

Peanut shells seem like a strange medium for sculpture, but talented miniature artist Steve Casino turns ordinary peanuts into pop culture icons with so much character they could hang out with Mr. Peanut.

Scratch that, I don't think Mr. Peanut is cool enough to hang with Steve Casino's creations, plus Mr. Peanut is all posh while the Casino crowd is a bit rough around the edges.

Steve's peanut superstars look perfectly camera ready in the front, but he leaves their backsides bare so you can see their humble beginnings as an ordinary legume.

See Miniature Versions Of Punks And Pop Culture Idols Made Of Peanuts here

Le cabinet d’architecture Cibinel a imaginé puis réalisé une maison en bois à Victoria Beach dans le sud du Canada. Une construction alliant cèdre et sapin, qui véhicule une atmosphère chaleureuse, et dont la terrasse semble parfaite pour profiter au mieux du coucher de soleil. Un mélange de courbes modernes et de matériaux traditionnels.

Integrating technology into our lives was supposed to make things easier for us, automating and managing aspects of our daily lives to ease our burden, but in reality tech has made things more complicated.

We now struggle to unplug, constantly searching for a wi-fi signal so we aren't disconnected from our online friends list, each of us easily distracted by the small screens in our pockets and purses.

It appears our priorities shifted when we weren't paying attention, and now we'd rather carry on heated discussions about the color of dresses instead of speaking about the sad state of affairs in America.

Illustrator Eduardo Salles has a knack for cutting through the digital chatter to expose the soft, fleshy parts of our minds that have yet to become permanently attached to the internet.

Plug his brutally honest illustrations in and enjoy!

See Honest Illustrations Depict The Uncomfortable Truths Of Life With Technology here

Microsoft’s deal to buy professional social network LinkedIn for $26.2 billion has officially closed.

Microsoft announced completion of the deal, the largest in Microsoft’s history, just two days after getting the final regulatory sign-off from the European Commission, with conditions. Microsoft announced the acquisition in June, and regulators in the U.S. and other countries had already cleared the deal.

Microsoft had faced opposition from Salesforce, which had competed for LinkedIn and asked European regulators to investigate the competitive implications of the deal.

With the deal done, Microsoft has started laying out its initial plans for LinkedIn. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner both posted articles on LinkedIn about the next steps for the combined company. They listed a few integrations being pursued right away. From the blog posts:

• LinkedIn identity and network in Microsoft Outlook and the Office suite
• LinkedIn notifications within the Windows action center
• Enabling members drafting résumés in Word to update their profiles, and discover and apply to jobs on LinkedIn
• Extending the reach of Sponsored Content across Microsoft properties
• Enterprise LinkedIn Lookup powered by Active Directory and Office 365
• LinkedIn Learning available across the Office 365 and Windows ecosystem
• Developing a business news desk across our content ecosystem and MSN.com
• Redefining social selling through the combination of Sales Navigator and Dynamics 365

Weiner wrote that day-to-day operations won’t change at LinkedIn, and Nadella added that Microsoft’s biggest goal is to speed up LinkedIn’s growth. The overall mission that drove the deal was “to help professionals transform how they work, realize new career opportunities and connect in new ways,” Nadella wrote.

Microsoft wants to make sure everyone benefits from technology. With LinkedIn on board, Microsoft will attempt to do that through helping “people develop new skills online, find new jobs and easily connect and collaborate with colleagues,” Nadella wrote.

He continued: “Technology alone will not solve these challenges, but together, working across private and public sectors, we can create more opportunity for everyone to participate and share in economic growth.”

I'm sure you've seen side-by-side comparisons that show how shockingly similar Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber look, but you'd be surprised just how many male celebs look like female celebs and vice versa.

Actually, it's not that surprising considering Hollywood loves actresses with a distinct jaw line and actors with slightly androgynous faces, but some celebs look so similar they could almost be the same person.

And then we have to start asking ourselves- when was the last time you saw Maria Shriver and Willem Dafoe in the same room?

That has to be a coincidence, right? But how can we explain away the shockingly similar face shared by Scarlett Johansson and young Christopher Walken?

See 17 Male And Female Celebrities That Look Terrifyingly Similar here

(Image Link)

Cosplayers look really cool when they're posing for photos or walking around the Con floor, but nobody considers how awkward they look when they're riding the train to the Con or sitting down for a meal in full costume.

(Image Link)

Many of the pros carry a costume bag with them to the Con so they can avoid these awkward moments, but even a pro will find themselves stuck on awkward speed once in a while.

(Image Link)

Those moments are just part of livin' that cosplay life, and all you can do when awkwardness strikes is keep calm and ask someone to help you get out the door!

(Image Link)

See Cosplayers In Compromising Positions here

À l’occasion de la sortie prochaine du Livre de la Jungle réadaptée au cinéma, le 13 avril 2016, Disney dévoile de superbes photos des acteurs posant avec leur personnage animal à l’écran. Une superbe série photo mettant en scène Scarlett Johansson et le serpent Kaa, Idris Elba – Shere Khan, Ben Kingsley est Bagheera, Lupita Nyong’o – Rashka, Giancarlo Esposito est Akela et Christopher Walken est King Louie. Une jolie série signée Disney et Sarah Dunn.

The Marvel superhero Thor has a hammer called Mjölnir that cannot be picked up by anyone besides Thor, or someone worthy of Thor’s status. That does not include Spider-Man, who is a mortal with spider powers. So what grief could Thor cause a fellow superhero with Mjölnir?

(YouTube link)

He could make life miserable. You don’t want to get on any superhero’s bad side, but even in good-natured pranking, an enchanted hammer is truly a secret weapon. -via Tastefully Offensive  

Our vision of the future has long included computers that we control with a wave of the hand. But what if that hand was also used to determine more about the user — including their age and which interface to show them?

Amazon has been awarded a patent for a gesture-based computing system that uses hand size to determine which interface to show a user. The patent, titled “Child-appropriate interface selection using hand recognition,” would apparently be used to show simpler, child-friendly UI to those with small hands.

The patent specifically refers to gesture-based computing systems, something Amazon has apparently been working on for a while. Last year, the company was awarded a patent that transforms your living room into “another reality,” a project apparently spearheaded by Amazon’s Lab126, the same division that spawned the ill-fated Fire Phone.

However, the most-recent patent may be a hangover of a more ambitious Amazon. One of the two named inventors listed on the patent, Menashe Haskin, worked at Lab126 but has since moved to the drone delivery division at Amazon. The other author, Deborah Shepard, left Lab126 back in 2013 and no longer works for Amazon, according to her LinkedIn page.

Since the fall of the Fire Phone, Lab126 seems to have switched focus to some more practical ideas. The division is behind the budget-friendly Fire tablet and the top-of-the-line Kindle Oasis and Voyage e-readers. The hardware-focused unit even created one of Amazon’s biggest hits, the Amazon Echo.

It may be the Echo that gets Amazon back into the room-transforming hardware space. The company seems to be ambitiously pursuing smart-home features for the AI powered speaker and recently introduced companion devices to bring those feature to every room in your home. The Echo may be Amazon’s way of getting its foot in your front door.

It ain't pretty.. Old school/hard core movement you rarely see today, but extremely effective. #BarrelChest #BigsDogEat #LilPuppiesStayOnThePorch #IronParadise

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on Jan 14, 2016 at 6:19am PST

The man formerly known as The Rock but now known as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is not made from the same stuff as you and I, and he's capable of performing feats no normal human could handle.

Most foodies can only dream of scarfing down 4 double dough pizza pies in one day, but that's just how Dwayne Johnson does cheat days.

(Image Link)

Wish you could befriend and tame horses so they'll pose with you in pictures? The Rock has been there, done that and has the picture to prove it.

'Cause the boys in the hood are always hard.. #Jeffery #Bob #TwoStuds #AndSomeBigTattooedBaldMan #OurFarm See you boys soon.

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on Jul 19, 2015 at 7:43am PDT

The Rock is also a superhuman caring machine, and between buying his mom a new car, saving his puppy from drowning and visiting a young fan at the children's hospital just to make her day he has definitely earned his halo!

When I visited the Children's National Hospital, I had the great pleasure of meeting Taylor - a very special and awesome girl. Minutes later I had the great displeasure of her beating me in an arm wrestling match in front of the entire hospital. #ThoughtIWasStrong #Nope #TaylorHasThatSuperHeroStrength #MerryChristmasHoney #ThankYouForMakingMyDay #AndForKickingMyButtAtArmWrasslin

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on Dec 20, 2014 at 6:00am PST

See 23 Ridiculous Things The Rock Does That No Normal Person Can here

Yitan Sun et Jianshi Wu sont deux architectes américains qui ont été récompensés lors de la cérémonie de design eVolo, dans la catégorie New York Horizon. Pour améliorer la vue de la Big Apple, leur proposition était d’abaisser Central Park de 100 mètres pour l’entourer d’un mur en verre réfléchissant de 300 mètres de hauteur. Comme nous pouvons le voir sur les maquettes qu’ils ont fournies, ces murs reflèteraient le paysage new-yorkais. Leur but est de rendre Central Park ainsi que la vue qu’il peut offrir, accessible aux plus grands nombres.

Leia et Lauren sont des soeurs jumelles de quelques mois déjà très célèbres sur Instagram. Il faut dire que la maman n’est jamais à court d’idées quand il s’agit d’habiller ses adorables bébés. En toutes circonstances, ces petites filles sont vêtues de la même manière voire de façon contraire pour être complémentaires. Un jour l’une est en Batman, l’autre en superman, le lendemain l’une porte un body kiwi et l’autre un body à l’effigie d’une orange. Chaque tenue est agrémentée de petits éléments décoratifs ludiques qui rendent les portraits encore plus insolites.