Before you settle in for the rest of the weekend and hit us up with excuses while prepping for another grueling (or will it be “grool”-ing?) week, check out all the WTF you might have missed with “The Week In WHAT?!”

3D Printers = Play-Doh for Adults?

3D printers are all the rage, and now it’s easier than ever to get your hands on one thanks to the team at Staples. Of course, nothing that will make you the envy of all your techie friends comes cheap. If you haven’t splurged your tax refund away and your Macbook pro isn’t puttin’ on the fritz, then good luck holding out until June. That’s when you’ll be able to purchase your very own Cube 3D printer for $1,299. Although restrictions may prevent you from creating everything under the sun, you can try quenching that uber-God complex you’ve developed courtesy of “The Sims” by making action figures of you and all your friends. Sorry, Puzz-3D, you can’t sit with us!

It’s Time to Go to Rehab, Charlie Brown!

Remember all those times Charlie Brown got all “good grief” on everyone and everything that troubled him? Well, his real-life alter ego Peter Robbins apparently missed the memo — and now faces troubles of his own. Robbins, the original voice of CB in the 1960s, was sentenced to 365 days in jail after pleading guilty to stalking and criminally threatening his girlfriend. As if his life were a “Peanuts” reality competition show, the judge immediately banished him to a drug rehab facility, uttering the words “don’t be a blockhead.” Let’s just hope the doctor is in. Unfortunately, it’s already cost him more than five cents.

A Changing Perspective on Climate Change?

Imagine the Arctic looking entirely different than it does now: instead of water, ice, glaciers and frozen tundra, picture the area densely populated by trees and other greenery. Could that actually happen? According to a group of scientific researchers, it not only could but actually did. Their findings suggest that almost 3.5 millions years ago, summers in the Arctic averaged a balmy temp of 59 degrees Fahrenheit. Guess we know what Travel + Leisure’s popular resort destination will be in a few million years, you know, if the world still exists.

What If Small Wonder Made a Movie?

Documentaries are going where they’ve never gone before — to the robots. A group of tiny, mobile robots known as the “blabdroid” are capturing footage to create their very own documentary. At the helm of the project is their creator, Alex Reben, who believes that his “stupid” yet artificially intelligent babies will capture a raw and unique perspective of the human condition. “Part of it is because when people interact with the robots, the robots are kind of non-judgmental.” says Reben. Catch a sneak peek of the blabdroid in action:

And there you have this week in “WHAT?!” Can’t wait to see what’s in store for humanity next!

Want to participate in next week’s edition? Tweet the news stories that make you go “WTF?!” throughout the week to @misterjzip. If a story you shared makes the cut, you’ll get a shout-out!

Images via SolidSmack and Slipups.

The post Are 3D Printers the Play-Doh of the Future? appeared first on HelloGiggles.

But before you get whisked away, check out this latest edition of “The Week In WHAT?!”

The Evolution of Creationism in Louisiana

Summer has yet to arrive, but things are heating up when it comes to the education system in Louisiana. Back in 2008, the state passed the Louisiana Science Education Act, which allows teachers to provide supplemental materials for the primary purpose of helping students “understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner.” While the intent is strong, opponents of teachings on creationism and intelligent design believe the current law gives teachers the power to reject generally accepted theories on behalf of their personal beliefs. In an attempt to repeal the act, the opposition drafted a new bill, which the state’s Senate Committee on Education opted to table earlier this week. Looks like it’s your move again, science…

Are You Still There, Internet? It’s Me, Paul

If you’ve ever given up Internet access for 40 days and 40 nights, then you know firsthand how difficult it might be to go an entire year without it. Well, Paul Miller of The Verge did just that. Now that he’s plugged back in, it’s only natural he would share how the experience went with the rest of us: “I was a little bored, a little lonely, but I found it a wonderful change of pace.” And yes, he was able to find plenty of offline activities to occupy his time while free from the shackles of the interwebs. It turns out life goes on even when you’re not posting about it on Twitter or Facebook.

You Need “Real” Friends To Keep Your “Facebook” Friends

The Facebook team is beefing up its account security system yet again. Looks like this time, they’ve found a way to bridge the gap between your offline and online friends. The new “trusted contacts” feature will allow users that get locked out of their accounts to seek help from friends. Of course, you’ll want to select only the most trustworthy of friends as these individuals will be the ones verifying your identity. Once they do, they’ll give you access codes to restore your account. Lets hope things don’t get too awkward when a “close” friend finds out you asked someone else to have your back. As they say in Panem, “may the odds be ever in your favor.”

Gorgeous Lips May Cost You More Than the Price of Lipstick

Lipstick aficionados might be seeing red — and it’s not only from a particularly bright shade of rouge on their lips. A recent UC Berkeley study discovered potentially toxic levels of metal in common lip coloring products. The most troubling finding? An average lipstick wearer could be exposing herself (or himself, for that matter) to an excessive amount of carcinogenic chromium. Lest we forget about the other metallics, such as lead, which are all contained in those tiny tubes and not currently monitored by the FDA. Can’t wait to see if NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg targets cosmetics next!

And there you have this week in “WHAT?!” Can’t wait to see what’s in store for humanity next!

Image via The Squabble.

The post The Battle of Evolution and Creationism Rages On appeared first on HelloGiggles.

Her latest release, the East Twenties EP, is “a collection of songs about love and loss” derived from personal experiences that are sure to resonate with audiences across the globe. Full disclosure: as a childhood friend of Annie’s, I might be just a tadbiased.

I recently caught up with Annie to discuss her reverse British music invasion. So, what do cows have to do with it all? Read on to find out!

Jonathan: What was your inspiration for the East Twenties EP?

Annie: It took me a little while to think of a title for the EP. As you know, I grew up in the East 20s in Manhattan, and all of the songs reminded me of different times in my life while living there.

J: So, now that you’re living across the pond, will your next album be an ode to England?

A: Well, I guess you never know! I’m currently working on a new album, and most of the songs are not written yet. Perhaps I’ll sing about bangers & mash and riding the London Eye.

J: Your lyrics have an emotionally raw quality about them. How would you describe your writing process?

A: Writing songs is the clearest way for me to emote. All of the songs that are either on the EP or my album (“Strangers Who Knew Each Other’s Names”) were all written in the same way. I sit down with my guitar and press record on Garageband, then I strum and sing sort of stream of thought. I’ll go back and listen then tweak and edit from there.

J: You know, it’s not everyday that an American singer-songwriter packs up and heads to England!

A: (laughs) That’s what people keep telling me!

J: It’s a pretty big jump. That’s for sure. Why England?

A: To put it simply: love. It was definitely not for the weather.

J: And here I always thought you did it for the rain!

A: I do have some nice wellies!

J: I’m sure they’ll come in handy for an outdoor concert — if they haven’t already.

A: Oh my goodness! There was SO MUCH mud last summer at a few of the festivals.

J: Sometimes you just gotta get down and dirty!

A: (laughs) What kind of site is this again?

J: You’re right… we’re having a little too much fun talking about weather…

A: You’re just lucky I didn’t start talking about my fear of wandering cows… but yes. Moving on.

J: Moving on? Um… I don’t think that’s possible now! What exactly is a “wandering” cow?

A: Well… sometimes there are cows just wandering through the fields. Full disclosure: I am seriously scared of them. I was walking in a field and halfway through I realized that there were no other people around. It was just me and about 15 cows. I tried to go back, but the problem was that I was surrounded by them. Anyway, I kept walking calmly as they were just [grazing] around the field, but then they started to walk on the path too. I called some friends in a panic and scared a cow. Thankfully, it jumped to it’s side rather than to the front. I ran and cried until I was free from this pretty field from hell. And that is the 2nd story that explains why I’m afraid of cows. The first is similar, but I wasn’t as close to them.

J: Wait… so you’ve had TWO incidents with wandering cows?! Oh, England… land of rain and the devilish wandering cow.

A: Seriously. I like burgers.

J: I don’t even know how to segue away from that story! Let’s try this one: if you could collaborate with anyone on a song or entire album, who would it be?

A: Let’s see — Belle & Sebastian would be so much fun! I can’t help it though, singing with Paul Simon would just make me melt.

J: Crushing on Paul Simon, eh?

A: Big time… since… forever. In a platonic music way though. Mr. Simon, if you are reading this, please don’t get the wrong idea!

J: Well, you two have a lot in common. New York roots… moving to England to pursue your solo careers…

A: Paul Simon… duet?

J: Spirit animals are all the rage these days. What do you think is yours? I’m guessing it’s not a cow. Oh, look at that… we’re back on the cows thing!

A: Moo! Spirit animal? For some reason, all I can think of is an aardvark — and I doubt I’d actually want to be one.

J: Who created all of the artwork on your “East Twenties” EP cover and your website?

A: I did. I drew that on a napkin when I was 2 years old. My mother had it framed on the wall ever since. I did take some artistic license and colored it in for the EP. I also designed my website.

J: Do you think 2 year old you somehow knew that you were creating a piece of art that would serve as a gateway to future artistic endeavors?

A: Absolutely! I was a child genius. (laughs) I invented baseball — and the internet. Want to know more about Annie’s music? Visit her official website for full tracks, videos and upcoming tour dates!

Check out Annie Dressner’s official video for “How Am I Supposed To Be?”

The post Annie Dressner: American Folk Singer-Songwriter Invades UK Music Scene appeared first on HelloGiggles.

http://youtu.be/SJZ8wZrCCv0

Red Rover, Red Rover Please Send a Penis Drawing Over Ever get bored in class or while on a tediously long conference call and doodle something naughty in your notebook? Now imagine being the mars rover: you’re all alone on a sandy red planet, cut off from any other sign of “intelligent” life and forced to wander around at the mercy of others. What’s a rover to do for entertainment? Draw an incredibly large penis, of course! Okay, this red rover isn’t the best artist. It’s more likely someone’s dirty little mind first caught the slight phallic resemblance while studying the picture a bit too closely. Although, the little guy (or girl) is man-made so it’s bound to have some proclivities of a — uh — carnal nature. Right?

Eggs Are the New Diamonds Who knew there was a market for partially fossilized eggs of extinct animals? Apparently, they’re all the rage at the London outpost of Christie’s auction house where one elephant bird egg netted over $100K. Don’t let the name fool you: elephant birds sadly could not fly. The ostrich-like creatures are believed to have met their doomed fate sometime during the 17th century. Let’s hope Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryn doesn’t find out about this one or the elephant bird could make an unexpected comeback. (If you’re not a Game of Thrones fan, then that sentence might as well have been written in Dothraki.)

Get Your Idea(s) Cook-ing With Tim Looking to pitch your latest technological invention to someone with the connections and finances to launch it into the mainstream? Sure, you could apply for a shot to enter the Shark Tank — OR you could invest (ahem, donate) some cold hard cash to win a coffee date with current Apple CEO Tim Cook. Needless to say, this is one cup of joe (cup of Tim?) that’ll cost you. The going rate is already above the $575K mark, which is much higher than the “estimated value” of $50K. Still, someone in the position to capitalize on such a golden opportunity might consider it priceless. Proceeds will go to The RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights. The charitybuzz auction runs through May 14. And there you have this week in “WHAT?!” Can’t wait to see what’s in store for humanity next!

Images via HuffPo, NASA and Associated Press.

The post Humans Come In All Shapes and Sizes appeared first on HelloGiggles.

So, without further ado…

Fame: A Game of Life? Who hasn’t spent an hour or two laying in bed, looking up at the ceiling and imagining what it would be like to be famous? Well, if you’re hard at work trying to turn that dream into a reality, you may want to give your plan for achieving said fame a second thought – depending on the field. A recent study published in the QJM: An International Journal of Medicine suggests that performers, authors, composers, artists and other creative types could have a shorter life expectancy to those who found notoriety through politics, business or the military. The researchers also note that celebrated athletes have a similar average age of death to that of the creative group. Of course, what’s a couple of years if you’re doing what you love to do?

Stranded Sea Lions Seeking Solace by the Sea Shore After months of investigation, scientists are still confused as to why an adorable yet alarmingly sizable group of sea lion pups are stranded along the southern California shore line. More than a third of the 1,293 beached sea lions are in Los Angeles County, which only played host to about 60 in the previous year. Given the staggering increase, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is referring to this as an “unusual mortality event.” The sea lions appear to be cut off from their food supply and hungry, or even emaciated in some cases.

The Magical Powers of Corn? Using the stems, leaves and husks of corn plants, bioengineers have discovered a new technique to transform cellulose into starch. Through this new process, researchers could potentially transform many plants often overlooked as a food source into an edible product. In fact, “simultaneous enzymatic biotransformation and microbial fermentation” (try saying that five times fast!) may be an important key in solving various food manufacturing, food production, fuel storage and fuel distribution issues. It’s also an environmentally friendly process as it does not lead to the creation of excess waste. Sounds like a win-win-win! Politician Responds Directly to Email Request from Constituent It hasn’t been the best week for a number of politicians in the news. See examples here and here. Oh, and then add this one to the list: a Republican State Senator engaged in a war of words with one of his local Missouri constituents via email. Seemingly uncertain as to how he ended up on State Sen. Brian Nieves’ mailing list, Bart Cohn requested his email address be removed – coloring the note with a dash of anger, just enough to incite Nieves. Things escalated rather quickly as grammar, spelling and a general command of the English language fell by the wayside. While it appears both sides are guilty of egregious behavior, you can be the judge as to who’s less in the wrong.

And there you have this week in “WHAT?!” Can’t wait to see what’s in store for humanity next!

Featured image via allvoices.

The post The Real Price of Fame: A Shorter Life Expectancy? appeared first on HelloGiggles.

If that’s just the tip of the WTF iceberg this week, then prepare yourself for impact because it’s time for “The Week In WHAT?!”

Behold the Power of Nutella

When your heart desires the luxuriously creamy combo of chocolate and hazelnut, your brain kicks into overdrive as you plan your attack on the nearest jar of Nutella. If you know the feeling, then you can probably sympathize with an unidentified group of crafty thieves that lifted over five tons of the popular Italian spread in central Germany. Of course, with a $20,000 price tag, chances are these bandits have other plans in store for their loot. Never leave your Nutella unattended!

Hide Your Teeth, Hide Your Gums

If just the idea of a visit to your local dentist gets you worked up into an uncomfortably clammy sweat, then brace yourself. An Indianapolis man walked into the Amazing Family Dental clinic for a routine procedure to have three teeth extracted but left without any teeth in his mouth. Christopher Crist, the autistic 21 year old patient, claims precautionary pain medication made him loopy as the work began and that the DDS continued pumping his gums full of numbing pain. The family plans to file a complaint with the state of Indiana. As if going to the dentist wasn’t already a traumatic experience…

Freedom of the Press… or Whatever

When it comes to journalism, the protection of one’s anonymity as a source of juicy intel is becoming a hot button issue. The United States Department of Justice regulates using subpoenas against the press. Nevertheless, a Fox News reporter now finds herself in the mix of the story after sharing details from an anonymous source while covering the trial of alleged Aurora, Colorado shooter James Holmes. The defense attorney believes Jana Winter’s source violated a protective order. Failure to reveal who leaked the information could land Winter in jail. As Voltaire, Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben and other great philosophers often say, “with great power comes great responsibility!”

Dogs Do the Darndest Things

You never know what goes on in the mind of a dog! This German Shepherd named Millie has dreams of playing baseball in the big leagues – or maybe she simply loves to fetch. Either way, if Hollywood decides to revamp the Air Bud movies, Millie is a shoo-in for the part after showing off her skills while her owners watched a televised game. Check out her moves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7QFFZJWAX8

And there you have this week in “WHAT?!” Can’t wait to see what’s in store for humanity next!

Image via NBC News

The post Could Nutella Be the Next Hot Commodity? appeared first on HelloGiggles.

This week also marked the anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. Sadly, one of this week’s WTF stories reveals we’ve still got quite a ways to go before his dream is 100% reality. Here’s to the first April edition of “The Week In WHAT?!”

Separate and Anything but Equal

We’re living in 2013, but that’s apparently a hard pill to swallow for one town in Georgia. Some students of Wilcox County High School in south Georgia are hoping to become change agents by organizing the school’s first ever integrated prom. Yes, the school currently hosts a separate “whites-only” prom that doesn’t allow students of other ethnic or racial backgrounds to attend. However, it’s some dedicated students that are starting to fight back. Since the Wilcox County High School doesn’t host an official “school sponsored” prom, a group of girls (with the help of their parents) is attempting to legally sponsor an integrated dance. Sadly, a lack of motivation to the change is making their effort more difficult. No matter what, they’ll host the “integrated” dance on April 27. Sounds like a change is gonna come to Wilcox!

Bacon, Bacon Everywhere?!

Nothing puts you in the mood quite like the combination of the salty and savory taste of bacon. At least, that’s what J&D’s is hoping! The bacon friendly brand recently unveiled it’s latest product: the bacon condom. So, if you’re looking for a new way to spice things up in the bedroom, look no further! For those of you with dietary restrictions such as keeping kosher or vegetarian, most of the J&D bacon products are both. The bigger issue might be the wait as the bacon condom was so popular, it’s already sold out. However, for those feeling impatient, the company also offers a bacon flavored lubricant, which is not only veggie friendly but vegan friendly as well. Any April Fool’s joke can become a reality if enough people actually express an interest!

Those Sounds: They Are Deceiving!

Police in Putnam County, Tennessee recently responded to a call from someone expressing concern after hearing an alleged cry for help from a fellow human. Turns out the cries were actually coming from a nearby goat that got stuck in a fence. Surprisingly, it’s not the first time local officials encountered a goat that sounded like a person. Though to be fair, anyone could easily be fooled. If you don’t believe that, listen for yourself:

Everyone knows that the most important part of a tribute to women… is the men. JUST KIDDING! Of course, it certainly wasn’t a laughing matter when Haligonian (yes, that’s the correct term for people from Halifax, Nova Scotia) commuters questioned an ad from Mount Saint Vincent University. The ad featured the slogan “we celebrate remarkable women…” yet the visual image that accompanied the words was of three gentleman flashing their pearly whites. A spokesman insists that the university wanted to reach a different audience since most of the previous donors to the advertised project were women. Well, as the saying goes, “behind every great woman…”

And there you have this week in “WHAT?!” Can’t wait to see what’s in store for humanity next!

Image via Jezebel.

The post Segregation Is All Around Us appeared first on HelloGiggles.

Of course, there’s still plenty of WTF moments (both exciting and confusing) to go around. No, this is not an early April Fool’s Day prank. It’s just another edition of The Week In WHAT?!

Your Garbage Can Power the World

According to the EPA, the average American produces approximately 4.5 pounds of garbage per day. Now, thanks to modern technology, there may come a time when “waste” and “trash” are no longer synonyms. An organization in the Philippines is turning the methane gases produced by landfills into clean-energy and in return providing free electricity to local citizens. The process, developed by Pangea Green Energy Philippines is a win-win for the environment as methane is a greenhouse gas often blamed for global warming if it enters the atmosphere, and the use of it as clean-energy reduces the need to burn additional fossil fuels. While this has yet to become an entirely viable long-term option, it could mean that in the future even your garbage will be going green. Take that, Oscar the grouch!

Can You Teach Students About Sex-Ed Without Using the Proper Words?
“Vagina. Vagina. Vagina.” Don’t worry. Contrary to what some may have heard, Beetlejuice nor any other creepy zombie-like monster will appear upon the use of the word “vagina” in conversation. Still, a group of parents complained after a sex-ed teacher in Idaho uttered the word during class. Yes: a sex-ed teacher was teaching a class about sexual education and used the proper name for female genitalia while teaching a lesson related to sex. The teacher will likely be reprimanded following the pubic public outcry also alleged that he “shared confidential student files with an individual other than their parents, showed a video clip in class depicting an infection of genital herpes, taught different forms of birth control and told inappropriate jokes in class.”

The First Cut Is the Deepest
Keeping with the theme of “rebel” teachers, officials in England are taking disciplinary measures against a school that provided a razor blade to a special needs student so that he could self-harm under a supervised, controlled environment. A spokeswoman for the school, which specializes in the education of children and teens with various levels of autism, insists that the policy was thought to be in the best interest of the student. With the input and involvement of the student’s mother, the school would escort the student to the bathroom with sterilized razors and then clean the wounds. Police were informed of the policy and closed the case after determining that no criminal charges were necessary, but the Department of Education is still investigating. Perhaps the biggest harm will instead come to the school’s reputation.

A Parasitic Sight for Sore Eyes
Despite the warning of ophthalmologists everywhere, some contact lens wearers often fail to maintain good hygiene. The results can be fatal. Fortunately, that was not the case for 18-year-old Ashley Hyde, but it’s hard to imagine she’ll ever practice poor contact care again. The Floridian teen almost went blind after developing an infection caused by an Acanthamoeba parasite that latched on to a dirty lens. In addition to blinding eye infections, Acanthamoeba can lead to dangerous brain and spinal cord infections. So, you might want to think twice the next time you consider reusing your old solution… or skipping the act of washing your hands to “save time” for that matter.

And there you have this week in “WHAT?!” Can’t wait to see what’s in store for humanity next!

Image via Shutterstock.

The post Parents Complain After Teacher Says “Vagina” During Sex-Ed Class And Other Weird News Of The Week appeared first on HelloGiggles.