Viral Video Recap: Funniest Memes of the Week

It’s been a tough, busy week. East coasters were getting their power knocked out by Hurricane Sandy. Most of the world was getting dressed up to go trick-or-treating. And then there were those waiting in line to snatch up an iPad mini.

So, if you didn’t have time to keep posted on this week’s hysterical viral videos, we’ve got you covered.

SEE ALSO: Past Viral Video Recaps

Jimmy Kimmel couldn’t resist taking a jab at Apple’s latest product release with his very own “suckers commercial;” Darth Vader and his band of stormtroopers hung out at Disneyland to celebrate becoming the newest addition to Mickey Mouse’s family; and while the upcoming U.S. election is on everyone’s minds, make sure you don’t mention it to four-year-old Abigael — she’s over that political drama.

What was your favorite viral video of the week? Tell us in the comments below.

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7 Fake Hurricane Sandy Photos You're Sharing on Social Media

Fake Hurricane Sandy photos flew around Twitter and Facebook on Monday, as users shared jaw-dropping images. Unfortunately, the race to post the most striking pics has most folks skipping the all-important fact check.

We've gathered up five "Hurricane Sandy" photographs that have spread on the social web, but weren't actually taken during the massive storm.

Obama and Romney Are Your New Dress Up Dolls

Still not sure who to vote for? Or maybe you're dead-set on a candidate, and simply waiting for Election Day next week.

Regardless of who you're voting for on Nov. 6, both of these presidential candidates could use some change -- of outfits, that is. The websites Change4Obama and Change4Romney will keep voters entertained until the election.

Both sites, created by social discovery site SocialPlex, allow users to dress up Barack Obama or Mitt Romney as various characters. You can mix and match features like hair, eyes, nose and outfits.

Your Favorite Logos Reimagined for the Zombie Apocalypse [PICS]

There seems to be a craze for reimagining top logos and since this is Halloween, why not rethink them for a zombie apocalypse, right?

Assuming that event were to come to pass, here's what your neighborhood Starbucks and the gas station down the street might look like, as envisioned by artist Ben Fellowes. For more of these horrifying logos, check out his site.

New York City Subway Needs a 'System Restore' [PIC]

Yes, crashed Windows OS, we know the New York City subway system was unable to restart after Hurricane Sandy. And, yes, we would love to run a system restore.

After Sandy ravaged the East Coast Monday evening, the subway system in New York City was left crippled. Not immune to inclement weather, the Windows-based display above the 77th Street subway stop seemed to have hit a snag as well.

'The Walking Dead' Gets 'Dear Photograph' Treatment [PICS]

Dear Photograph, a popular nostalgia blog showcasing photos within photos, gave its visitors a terrifying surprise Wednesday: The Walking Dead-inspired posts.

Dear Photograph creator Taylor Jones told Mashable he teamed up with FOX International Channels on the Halloween Day images, which folks at The Walking Dead created for their international ad campaign.

Each of the two blog posts showcases a zombie and a post-zombie-apocalypse caption.

We've gathered up five "Hurricane Sandy" photographs that have spread on the social web, but weren't actually taken during the massive storm.

Still not sure who to vote for? Or maybe you're dead-set on a candidate, and simply waiting for Election Day next week.

Both sites, created by social discovery site SocialPlex, allow users to dress up Barack Obama or Mitt Romney as various characters. You can mix and match features like hair, eyes, nose and outfits.

There seems to be a craze for reimagining top logos and since this is Halloween, why not rethink them for a zombie apocalypse, right?

Yes, crashed Windows OS, we know the New York City subway system was unable to restart after Hurricane Sandy. And, yes, we would love to run a system restore.

Dear Photograph, a popular nostalgia blog showcasing photos within photos, gave its visitors a terrifying surprise Wednesday: The Walking Dead-inspired posts.

Each of the two blog posts showcases a zombie and a post-zombie-apocalypse caption.

Source : feeds[dot]mashable[dot]com Read More

British soldier killed in Cyprus 'nightclub fight'

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4 November 2012 Last updated at 11:09 ET

British soldier killed in Cyprus 'nightclub fight'

A British soldier stationed in Cyprus has been stabbed to death in a nightclub in the resort of Ayia Napa.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed a 19-year-old soldier from 2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, had died. His family has been informed.

Police said three British tourists had been arrested following a reported altercation with four off-duty soldiers in the early hours.

The MoD has banned soldiers from Ayia Napa's centre after past trouble.

The town is a popular destination for thousands of young holidaymakers.

The two British military bases in the former colony, which gained independence in 1960, are home to more than 3,000 personnel.

The dead soldier is reported to have been stationed at the base in Dhekelia, about 12 miles (20km) west of Ayia Napa.

Police spokesman George Economou said the soldier was pronounced dead on arrival at Famagusta General Hospital in Paralimni. A knife has been recovered and is undergoing forensic tests.

The three arrested Britons are expected to appear in court on Monday.

The Foreign Office said it was aware of the arrest of three British nationals in Ayia Napa and was providing consular assistance.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "It is with great sadness that the MoD must confirm that a soldier... has died in an incident in Cyprus.

"An investigation is being conducted by Cyprus police and it would be inappropriate to comment any further. The family has been informed and our thoughts are with them."

Source : bbc[dot]co[dot]uk Read More

Jay Holanda Explains The Surreal Experience Of Guest Starring On Bravo’s ‘Start Ups: Silicon Valley’ View Staff Page Follow me on twitter Have a Tip, Pitch or Guest Column? Tell us.X Latest on TechCrunch TV Latest in Gadgets Also on AOL Tech About Subscribe

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Jay Holanda has an odd relationship with Bravo’s Start-Ups: Silicon Valley TV show (which premieres tomorrow night). He was originally one of the main cast members, but recently found out that he’s been demoted to guest star. He told me that he hasn’t watched any of the commercials, and he doesn’t even know which episodes he’ll be appearing in.

In fact, when I met with Holanda last week, his primary attitude toward the show seemed to be curiosity. He doesn’t know how it turned out, and like almost everyone else, he said he was curious how the producers balanced accuracy with the need to create an entertaining TV show. At the same time, Holanda spoke affectionately about the other cast members, and seemed genuinely annoyed by some of the backlash.

(The obvious guess is that they sacrificed accuracy and amped up the melodrama, but early reviews, including one from TechCrunch writer and community director Drew Olanoff’s mom, suggest that the show fails on both counts. BusinessWeek’s Sam Grobart writes that it’s not even particularly watchable: “But this crew is like a six-pack of nonalcoholic beer: It’s lousy and doesn’t even get you drunk.”)

There’s a lot less ambivalence over at the TechCrunch office. Co-editor Eric Eldon, for example, hates the idea and would prefer not to acknowledge that the show exists. (He didn’t want me writing about it at all, but, well, I have direct access to the publish button. His exact words: “I can’t stop you.”) I, on the other hand, find it kind of fascinating, but mostly in a train wreck sort of way. So when I met with Holanda, one of the main things I was curious about was: How did someone who seemed relatively normal and laid back get involved in a reality TV show?

Holanda, who splits his time between Los Angeles and the Bay Area, said it all started when he was playing flip cup with one of the show’s producers, and he was invited to participate in the final auditions. After he was cast, Holanda said he wasn’t sure whether to say yes. On the one hand, it could be a fun experience that increased his visibility. On the other, people in the tech industry were already reacting negatively to the very concept.

Ultimately, Holanda said, “It sounded so fun, and I thought I’d regret not doing it.” And even though he knew that he couldn’t determine how the footage was edited, “I just kept telling myself, I’m in control of what I put out there.”

As for the actual process of making the show, Holanda wasn’t allowed to go into too many details. Asked how “real” the footage caught on camera was, he compared the experience to “a real TV show or commercial, just minus a script editor.”

He also said it was exhausting to be filmed constantly, “like being on a first date every day.” There were frequent invites to hang out and party on-camera at the San Francisco house where stars Ben and Hermione Way were living. Holanda was working on his own personal assistant startup at the time (he’s now trying to bring some of the ideas to fruition by working with Zirtual), and he was also consulting with other tech companies, so the camera crews often tagged along to the meetings. While the show was being filmed earlier this year, Holanda estimated that production ate up about half of cast members’ lives.

And even though Holanda hasn’t seen any of the actual footage, he has been following the discussion around the show, and he said he was surprised by “this level of social media hate.” In particular, he pushed back against the idea that unless it captured “eight smelly guys coding in a room,” the show would be unrealistic.

“I find that incredibly short-sighted,” Holanda said. “That’s so offensive. An artist working in South San Francisco, or someone who works at a nonprofit to save the environment, they’re still part of the community.”

In terms of “geek credibility,” he pointed out that there are two programmers in the main cast. With the looks of a professional model (yes, really), Holanda might not seem like an obvious nerd himself, but he said that he actually played Magic the Gathering on the pro circuit, and he’s currently one of the top-ranked Dominion players in the world. He’s also a long-time resident of the Valley, with a resume that includes a stint at Excite in the late ’90s. Plus, speaking of holding himself back, Holanda recalled one night when he refused to go to one of the show’s parties so that he could stay in and play Star Wars: The Old Republic with his friends.

Holanda found out about a month ago that his role had been reduced, and he’s not sure what that means. Nor could he say why it happened. If I were to guess, though, I’d bet that all that stuff about, “I’m in control in what I put out there” may not be a reliable formula for entertaining TV.

But again, when it comes to how it all turned out, Holanda will just have to watch and see. Just like the rest of us.

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$250 million GTA: San Andreas lawsuit fails

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Appeals court judge denies supposed Cypress Hill backup singer's claims that Rockstar used his likeness as model for CJ character.

Rockstar Games parent company Take-Two Interactive has won a lawsuit over Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, writes The Hollywood Reporter. An appellate court judge on Wednesday denied supposed Cypress Hill backup singer Michael "Shagg" Washington's claims that Rockstar used his life story and physical appearance as a basis for protagonist Carl "CJ" Johnson. Cypress Hill denies any association with Washington.

Washington sued Take-Two in 2010 for $250 million, alleging that during the course of the game's development, he met with Rockstar to discuss details regarding his former life as a gang member. He even provided the company with a photo of himself and his name appears in the GTA: San Andreas credits.

However, a judge did not find this to be enough, and a California appeals court has concurred. Washington's principal problem was that he could not prove it was his likeness that appeared in San Andreas. The judge said, "Plaintiff is relying entirely on CJ's physical appearance in the game, but that appearance is so generic that it necessarily includes hundreds of other black males."

Additionally, the judge ruled that even if Rockstar did base CJ on Washington, it would have been protected as transformative fair use. This is an argument based on the fact that the First Amendment allows existing materials, including images, to be used so long as they are amended enough for a new purpose.

"Washington has presented no evidence demonstrating that the plot or characters of GTA: San Andreas have any relevance to his life or his purported fame," a statement from the decision reads.

[CORRECTION] According to a tweet from Cypress Hill, Washington is not affiliated with the band. GameSpot regrets the error.

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Source : gamespot[dot]com Read More

Storm Sandy: Cuomo and Bloomberg warn on NY housing

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4 November 2012 Last updated at 19:26 ET

Storm Sandy: Cuomo and Bloomberg warn on NY housing

Girl watches over donated bag of clothing, Rockaways, Queens, New York (4 November)

Many of those displaced by the storm face an uncertain future

Continue reading the main story

Storm Sandy

Tens of thousands of people displaced by storm Sandy could soon need housing as cold weather closes in, New York's political leaders have warned.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg put the figure at 30,000-40,000 people.

Federal agencies are looking for flats and hotel rooms in order to get people out of shelters, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has said.

At least 106 US deaths - 40 of them in New York City - have been blamed on Sandy, which struck on 29 October.

The storm had already caused 69 deaths in the Caribbean before reaching the US. On Sunday the Haitian government made an appeal for humanitarian assistance from other governments and international organisations.

Aid agencies in Haiti have voiced concerns about the damage caused by Sandy, which has destroyed crops and left thousands of people homeless. There are also fears about the spread of cholera in flooded areas.

Appeal to leave

The governor of New York State, Andrew Cuomo, said homes without heat would become uninhabitable as temperatures fell.

Residents who had so far refused to leave their homes would have no other option, Mr Cuomo told a news conference on Sunday.

He also said there would be increasing pressure on public transport on Monday, as more people returned to work and the schools re-opened.

Governor of New York state, Andrew Cuomo

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Andrew Cuomo, Governor of New York state: "People are in homes that are uninhabitable"

Fuel shortages were easing, but Mr Cuomo urged New Yorkers not to hoard petrol, saying more supplies were on their way.

New York City opened warming shelters in areas without power and handed out blankets to residents who insisted on staying in homes without power.

But Mr Bloomberg urged those without heating to leave their homes if necessary.

"You can die from being cold. You can die from fires started when you use candles or stoves to heat your apartment," he said.

"If you don't know where to go, stop a cop on the street and say, please tell me where to go. They'll help you. But we have to make sure that you are safe for a few days and that you have food and water for a few days."

Temperatures fell to 39F (4C) on Sunday and are forecast to go as low as 30F (-1C) on Monday.

Impromptu runs

About 730,000 people in New York state still do not have electricity, including more than 130,000 in New York City, the governor said.

Nearly a million people in the neighbouring state of New Jersey remain without power, and petrol is being rationed.

Hundreds of runners who had been planning to take part in the New York marathon - cancelled by Mayor Bloomberg on Friday - joined impromptu runs to raise funds or deliver aid.

The storm damage from Sandy is also affecting preparations for voting in Tuesday's elections.

New Jersey residents displaced by Sandy will be able to vote by email or fax, the state's chief election official has decided.

They will be designated as "overseas voters" and can apply for mail-in ballots up until 17:00 on election day.

Mr Bloomberg said New York officials would do "anything we can" to help the board of elections, saying "they have real problems".

Are you in New York? Are you or is someone you know homeless due to storm Sandy? Send us your experiences using the form below.

Source : bbc[dot]co[dot]uk Read More

Oprah Declares The Microsoft Surface One Of Her Favorite Things View Staff Page Follow me on twitter Have a Tip, Pitch or Guest Column? Tell us.X Latest on TechCrunch TV Latest in Gadgets Also on AOL Tech About Subscribe

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Whelp, there you go. The MS Surface is one of Oprah’s favorite things, thus winning the oh-so-important housewives demographic. But no iPad mini. She said “The Surface, Microsoft’s first tablet, feels like a Mercedes-Benz to me, people!”

The Surface RT is just one of 48 of Oprah’s fav things including Beats by Dre Powerbeats and Josh Groban’s Noel CD. It’s unclear how much Microsoft paid for this ringing endorsement, but it probably accounts for a good chunk of the $1.5 billion Microsoft reportedly allotted for Windows 8 marketing. I kid.

We all know the broad strokes: The Surface is Microsoft’s first PC. The hardware is fantastic. But the Surface, or rather Surface RT, runs a limited version of Windows 8 called Windows RT. It looks like Windows 8, smells like Windows 8, but doesn’t taste like Windows 8. That could be a problem for a lot of buyers unaware of the limitations.

Microsoft needs to pull out all the stops. Some people love the Surface. Others love the idea of the Surface. But the Surface RT and Pro need to succeed and there isn’t better spokesperson for the normal people than Oprah — besides Jeremy Clarkson, of course.

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NASA Satellite Photos Compare Before and After Sandy

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Thousands still remain without power after Hurricane Sandy blew through the east coast on Monday.

NASA’s Earth Observatory released satellite images that compare power usage in the tri-state area before and after the storm.

The first image was taken at 2:14 a.m. ET Aug. 31. The second, with clouds still present from Sandy, was taken at 2:52 a.m. ET, Nov. 1.

“Both images were captured by the VIIRS ‘day-night band,’ which detects light in a range of wavelengths from green to near-infrared and uses filtering techniques to observe signals such as gas flares, city lights, and reflected moonlight,” writes the Earth Observatory.

The site also notes that the bright spot along New Jersey “could be fires fueled by severed natural gas lines.”

SEE ALSO: NYC Goes Dark: 10 Eerie Photos of the Hurricane Blackout

More Coverage of Hurricane Sandy

The Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy

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Breezy Point, Queens

"Destruction after fire in Breezy Point, Queens." Via Official New York City Fire Department

Breezy Point, Queens

"Destruction after fire in Breezy Point, Queens."

Via Official New York City Fire Department

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

"Damage being repaired on the roof of the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Arts and Crafts Center after Hurricane Sandy made landfall."

Via Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs/Sgt. Brett Perkins

North Carolina

Via North Carolina Department of Public Transportation

Manhattan

"No traffic on the FDR today. This was all under water the night before. It's amazing how a storm like Sandy can completely shut down an entire city."

Via WanderingtheWorld

South Ferry Station, Manhattan

A submerged escalator at the South Ferry subway station in Lower Manhattan. Via MTA

East Village, Manhattan

People bail water from a basement of an East Village business. Via Brennan Cavanaugh

West Village, Manhattan

"Bleeker Street Pizza: OPEN- The electricity was still out, but they were making pizza anyway, with the help of their gas-fired oven and a few spelunker head lamps."

Via Nick Sherman

East Village at Avenue C, Manhattan

Via jesseandgreg

Battery Park

A truck is submerged in Battery Park, Manhattan. Via Andrea Canning

Belmar, New Jersey

"Hurricane Sandy damage in Belmar, N.J. on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012." Via Talk Radio News Service

Seaside Heights, New Jersey

"Aerial views of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy to the New Jersey coast taken during a search and rescue mission by 1-150 Assault Helicopter Battalion, New Jersey Army National Guard, Oct. 30, 2012."

Via U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released

White Hall subway station in NYC

Via Andrew Cuomo

North Wildwood, New Jersey

Via thejkinz

West Wildwood, New Jersey

A street underwater. Via thejkinz

Long Island, New York

A tree uprooted in Long Island, New York. Via nikki_skye

Stonybrook, Long Island, NY

via Meghan Pipe

Michigan

Via lafontainenissan

NYC

Via miss_pagano

Dumbo, Brooklyn

"Main St. After Hurricane Sandy" Via DumboNYC

Dumbo, Brooklyn

"Jane's carousel is basically an island now. Poor horses." Via andjelicaaa

Toronto

Via toastmatic

Staten Island

Via katemcdermott7

West Virginia

"John Schmidt, of the West Virginia Field Office, photographed his backyard during Hurricane Sandy." Via U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services

Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn

Via juspostbellum

Staten Island

Via anitaaaaaaaaaa3

Red Cross Digital Command Center

"President Obama visits the American Red Cross Digital Command Center following Hurricane Sandy"

Via Dell

Portsmouth, Virginia

"Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, visits Soldiers from the 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment Oct. 30 in Portsmouth, Va. "

Via Virginia Guard Public Affairs

Piscataway Township, New Jersey

"Spc. Anthony Monte along with Soldiers from the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard, mobilized for Hurricane Sandy provide assistance to displaced residents at an emergency shelter at the Werblin Recreation Center, Piscataway Township, N.J., Oct. 29, 2012."Via U.S. Army

Damaged Space Shuttle Enterprise

Via John deGuzman

Mears, Virginia

"Virginia National Guard Soldiers trudged through high water and cut trees to clear a path for two rescue missions that transported seven adults and one child to safety at two locations on Cattail Road in the Mears, Va. area Oct. 30." Via The National Gaurd

Fort Greene, Brooklyn

A car that has been smashed by a tree in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Via CSondi

"Destruction after fire in Breezy Point, Queens." Via Official New York City Fire Department

"Destruction after fire in Breezy Point, Queens."

Via Official New York City Fire Department

"Damage being repaired on the roof of the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Arts and Crafts Center after Hurricane Sandy made landfall."

Via Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs/Sgt. Brett Perkins

Via North Carolina Department of Public Transportation

"No traffic on the FDR today. This was all under water the night before. It's amazing how a storm like Sandy can completely shut down an entire city."

Via WanderingtheWorld

A submerged escalator at the South Ferry subway station in Lower Manhattan. Via MTA

People bail water from a basement of an East Village business. Via Brennan Cavanaugh

"Bleeker Street Pizza: OPEN- The electricity was still out, but they were making pizza anyway, with the help of their gas-fired oven and a few spelunker head lamps."

Via Nick Sherman

Via jesseandgreg

A truck is submerged in Battery Park, Manhattan. Via Andrea Canning

"Hurricane Sandy damage in Belmar, N.J. on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012." Via Talk Radio News Service

Via U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released

Via Andrew Cuomo

Via thejkinz

A street underwater. Via thejkinz

A tree uprooted in Long Island, New York. Via nikki_skye

via Meghan Pipe

Via lafontainenissan

Via miss_pagano

"Main St. After Hurricane Sandy" Via DumboNYC

"Jane's carousel is basically an island now. Poor horses." Via andjelicaaa

Via toastmatic

Via katemcdermott7

"John Schmidt, of the West Virginia Field Office, photographed his backyard during Hurricane Sandy." Via U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services

Via juspostbellum

Via anitaaaaaaaaaa3

"President Obama visits the American Red Cross Digital Command Center following Hurricane Sandy"

Via Dell

"Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, visits Soldiers from the 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment Oct. 30 in Portsmouth, Va. "

oneconei

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