Can Twitter be saved? In a wide-ranging conversation with TED’s Chris Anderson and Whitney Pennington Rodgers, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey discusses the future of the platform — acknowledging problems with harassment and moderation and proposing some fundamental changes that he hopes will encourage healthy, respectful conversations. “Are we actually delivering something that people value every single day?” Dorsey asks.
Cheech & Chong Announce O Cannabis Canadian Tour
Iconic comedy duo Cheech & Chong defined an era with their hilariously irreverent, satirical, counter-culture comedy routines. Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong have been entertaining fans for more than four decades and are ready to celebrate recent updates to Canadian legislation with their new O Cannabis Tour which will hit 14 markets across the country this fall.
Tickets for the O Cannabis Tour will go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 26 at 10am local time at www.livenation.com.
With nine albums released from 1972 through 1985, Cheech and Chong were nominated for four Grammy Awards, winning the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album with their third album, Los Cochinos, released in 1973. Big Bambu, their second album, was the biggest selling comedy record of all time in 1972 and remained so for many years. Their stunningly successful comedy streak transitioned to film in 1978 with their first movie, “Up In Smoke,” the highest grossing comedy of 1978, topping $100 million at the box office. Cheech and Chong co-wrote and starred in a total of eight feature films together, all directed by Chong.
Cheech Marin is a paradox in the world of entertainment. Cheech is an actor, director, writer, musician, art collector, and humanitarian, a man who has enough talent, humor, and intelligence to do just about anything. He is truly a multi-generational star, having starred in films like Born In East L.A. and Tin Cup, and on televisions shows like Nash Bridges and Jane The Virgin.
Tommy Chong began his entertainment career as a musician in a Canadian-based rhythm and blues band. Eventually, he landed a gig with the “Vancouvers” and co-wrote the band’s 1960s hit, “Does Your Mama Know About Me.” Chong then turned towards the life of an actor and appeared in several films including National Lampoon’s Senior Trip. Chong has also starred, most notably, on “That 70’s Show,” and guest starred on “Dharma & Greg” and “The George Lopez Show.”
Cheech & Chong O Cannabis Tour
Sunday, September 22 – Toronto, ON – Roy Thomson Hall
Monday, September 23 – Montreal, QC- Théâtre Maisonneuve
Wednesday, September 25 – Hamilton, ON – FirstOntario Concert Hall
Thursday, September 26 – Kitchener, ON – Centre in the Square
Saturday, September 28 – London, ON – Start.ca Performance Stage at Budweiser Gardens
Sunday, September 29 – Thunder Bay, ON – Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
Tuesday, October 1 – Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre
Wednesday, October 2 – Regina, SK – Conexus Arts Centre
Thursday, October 3 – Saskatoon, SK, TCU Place
Friday, October 4 – Calgary, AB – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
Sunday, October 6 – Victoria, BC – Royal Theatre
Monday, October 7 – Edmonton, AB – Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
Wednesday, October 9 – Penticton, BC – South Okanagan Events Centre
Thursday, October 10 – Abbotsford, BC – Abbotsford Centre
Jonas Brothers To Perform on the 2019 Billboard Music Awards
Chart-topping trio Jonas Brothers will perform their No. 1 smash hit “Sucker” on the 2019 Billboard Music Awards. Their 2019 performance will mark their first televised award show performance in 10 years. Jonas Brothers join previously announced performers BTS featuring Halsey, Kelly Clarkson, Lauren Daigle, Khalid, Panic! At The Disco and Sam Smith & Normani, plus a special performance by 2019 ICON Award recipient, Mariah Carey. The 2019 Billboard Music Awards will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Wednesday, May 1 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and will feature this year’s hottest musical acts, unexpected collaborations and buzzworthy moments.
Jonas Brothers may have taken a break for a few years, but the sibling trio of Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas came roaring back in 2019 with their first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, “Sucker.” The track debuted atop the list, marking the first time a group opened at No. 1 in more than 20 years. Before the “Sucker” madness, Jonas Brothers notched five top 10-charting albums on the Billboard 200 chart (two of which hit No. 1) and earned over 6 million in equivalent album units for their overall album catalog.
Mark Hamill Loves Trolling Star Wars Fans
Mark Hamill talks about falling into his character in Knightfall, trolling Star Wars fans and the differences between screen acting and voice acting.
Lip Sync Karaoke with Cher and Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon and Cher take turns lip-syncing to audio of random people singing karaoke to her hit classic “Believe.”
https://youtu.be/3_ot8SvZJSE
The Greatest Ad For Instant Ramen Noodles You’ll Ever See
This commercial for one of Nissin’s instant noodle dishes starts out innocently enough. BUT THEN TURNS VERY METAL.
https://youtu.be/RsGGQAJ3Bb8
There Are Now Game Of Thrones Guitars Made By Fender
Watch as Principal Master Builder Ron Thorn and Game of Thrones creator and show runner D.B. Weiss talk through the Fender Custom Shop Game of Thrones Sigil Collection. There’s a House Stark Telecaster, a House Lannister Jaguar, and a House Targaryen Stratocaster, each with incredible hand-cut details, and extravagant materials. Prices range from $25K to $35K and available here.
Pete Buttigieg Has Released His Playlist On Spotify, And He’s Got Great Taste
Pete Buttigieg the forward-thinking Mayor of South Bend, Indiana who is eyeing a full run for President of the United States of the America, just released his most important document of the campaign – his Spotify playlist. You’ll find Phish, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Florence + the Machine, Beck, Portugal. The Man, David Bowie and George Michael.
I Love This: Etch-A-Sketch Digital Camera
Etch-A-Snap is (probably) the worlds first Etch-A-Sketch Camera. Powered by a Raspberry Pi Zero (or Zero W) it snaps photos just like any other camera, but outputs them by drawing to an Pocket Etch-A-Sketch screen. Quite slowly.
Photos are processed down to 240×144 pixel 1-bit (black & white) line drawings using Pillow and OpenCV and then translated into plotter commands by building a network graph representation with networkx. The Etch-A-Sketch wheels are driven by two 5V stepper motors mounted into a custom 3D printed frame. The Etch-A-Snap is entirely portable and powered by 4xAA batteries & 3×18650 LiPo cells.
Canadian Pop Supergroup GIRL POW-R Inspire 500,000+ Teens Worldwide with NEW Video “Never Let Go”
Canadian pop/rock band Girl Pow-R continue their mission of empowerment this week, having inspired more than 500,000 teens and young adults worldwide with their newest video “Never Let Go.”
The clip — seen across all Girl Pow-R socials — dazzles with the all-girl supergroup’s dynamic dancing, and comes complete with an important message to their fellow female fans: ‘stay true to you’.
It’s a message dear to their hearts: Girl Pow-R have been seen around Canadian cities as of late inviting audience-members and passersby to write on their signature #GirlPowRment wall. “We started as a group by writing messages about friendship, acceptance and support that we find inspiring,” says the band. “We really enjoy seeing what other girls and women add!”
In continuing their inspirational mission of spreading confidence and kindness, Girl Pow-R — as seen on YTV, TVO Kids, CityTV, eTalk Canada, Girls’ Life, Tiger Beat, J-14, Celeb Secrets, Fresh 95.3 and more — are hoping “Never Let Go” will encourage girls to stay confident in their individuality and avoid the pitfalls of peer pressure and online influence in today’s hyper-digital age.
“It’s about never becoming someone you’re not, even when there is pressure from your peers and the media,” Girl Pow-R alum Kalista explains. “Young people already face challenges with knowing who they are, they don’t need the added pressure of looking like a runway model.”
“The song is based off personal experiences a lot of us girls have faced. Being on Instagram and seeing all of these icons and role models having ‘perfect lives’, and going to school and seeing other kids wearing makeup, it’s hard to be yourself or feel accepted when you don’t do the same.”
“You feel like you have to change who you are to please others.”
“Our inspiration was about when you’re forced to be someone you’re not, and how we stand above it!” adds bandmate Krisalyn, who adds that she too has personally gone through situations like those discussed in the song’s lyrics.
“In my case, this song is based on a friend’s experience,” fellow Girl Pow-R member Milana rounds out, sharing how she helped her friend navigate the hurdles of overwhelming influence. “She felt pressured to change herself into someone else to fit in.”
“A lot of people in our society are trying to change you to not be yourself, and to act differently to fit in. But (we say) you should ‘Never Let Go’ of yourself for someone else!”
“Be you, and be proud of who you are.”
With members ranging in age from 10 – 17, Girl Pow-R’s greatest strength lies in the diversity in their ages, backgrounds and life experiences. The universal things that join them together, however, are dynamic skill sets and a shared mission of empowerment among young women in the world today.
“I think we’re growing more,” Kalista reflects. “We’re realizing life isn’t just about having fun all day and having a good time. We’ve realized there are pressures and issues that everyone goes through, but nobody really talks about it.”
“It grew as we grew,” Krisalyn agrees, considering the lyrics and their message, compared to when Girl Pow-R started. “We are all a bit older now, and experiencing more mature situations.”
“Social media has also had an impact on us,” Milana adds, “and has increased our ability to write lyrics based on not only ours, but on our fans sharing their own stories too.”