Interview: That time I stole Scumbag Steve’s hat
May 16th
I wonder if the person who ripped Blake Boston’s picture from Myspace and turned him into an internet meme had any idea that the dude under the iconic hat was actually, legitimately, a hilarious character.
Surely they must by now. Scumbag Steve is one of the most ubiquitous image macros of our time! And while he may have hated it at first, being a meme seems to be working out well for Boston.
See: scumbagthursdays.com, this, and the rap video below that’s scored more than 2 million hits in just 13 days
I hate to break it to y’all, but the real Scumbag Steve is actually a nice guy. He’s Cool, funny, polite… Not a scumbag at all.
Everybody at ROFLcon was loving him, myself included. THAT ACCENT kills me. SCAHF!
Don’t be disillusioned though, kittens. Scumbag Steve is about so much more than one photograph of one guy! The face of the meme may be Blake’s, but the humour stems from what we think about the scumbags in our own lives.
BWAHAHAH! I did that, man. I did that.
Annnnd blogging of comedic YouTube rap videos, I’ve been meaning to post this Krispy Kreme video for a few weeks now. I may have included it in a linklist already, but whatever. It’s good enough to blog twice.
The YouTube comments on that one are golden. Aren’t they always? Here’s a gem I got on an old video today:
I HAVE 400 HOUSES.
French journalist goes on a hipster hunt, and it is good.
May 14th
Take a few minuntes to watch this if you’re not too busy delivering babies in the back of taxi cabs or something. It’s really good. Better than creeping that chick you worked with for like, 2 months in highschool’s vacation photos on Facebook right now, I promise.
Bravo, Lorena Galliot and Julie Percha! This project is both informative and hilarious. Dope, even. I’m in love with it.
The hipster subculture fascinates me — especially from the other side of my computer screen where I can’t smell it. My hope is to one day visit the hipster homeland myself. I already have the perfect guise. I’ll blend right into the people of Williamsburg!
Back to the editing suite! AKA my converted closet / micro-office…
(video via Laughing Squid)
The Many (okay, a few) Faces of the Internet User: Which are you?
May 14th
image via FastCompany
When I started scrolling down this infographic I thought “HA! Great idea.” And then I passed the 7th panel and it was like “… uh…”
Is that it? Where are the mommy bloggers? The marketing deebs? The Nigerian Princes and game-day tweeters? The white knights, the Tumbling teens, the shameless social media gurus?
This is perturbingly incomplete and the references are dated, but it’s gorgeous nonetheless and jeepers why the heck am I griping about somebody else’s work?
THANK YOU, Flowtown, for making something cool. You rule. Your graphic designers especially.
Which category do you fall under? I’d put myself into the Meme Machine or Fact Finder. Actually, based on this post, I’m probably more of a critic.
(via Flowtown)
Mother’s day 2012: Annette O’Neil Roo-layz!
May 13th
V-v-v-video blogggg:
I don’t like to do generic presents. Never have. Flowers may be pretty, but they aren’t exactly memorable — unless they come in a pot with your FACE on it.
image via GOOD.kz
But I didn’t get my mom a face-pot for mother’s day this year. Nope. I didn’t have the time to make one, and even if I did I wouldn’t have been able to give it to her on time because I wasn’t able to make it home for mother’s day this year 
So, instead of shelling out for FedEx to speed-deliver some quirky slapped-together scrapbook thing, I did what any busy young urbante who grew up in a capitalist system would: I outsourced my mother’s day present (SEE VIDEO BLOG ABOVE.)
Cue flak. *sigh*
I also posted a tribute to my mommy here, and it goes a little something like this:
My mother is a hero in every sense of the word.
As an Emergency room RN, she saves lives every day.
As a laundry wizard, she manages to make food stains that not even a dry cleaner will touch just… vanish.
As a chef, she whips together meals inspired by things she’s tasted in restaurants — SANS RECIPE — and then does it all over again vegetarian styles, for me.
As a wife, she’s been able to keep my dad from eating hot dogs for breakfast (most of the time) for 27 years.
As a mother, she got my brother and I through elementary school, high school, university and grad school with her unconditional support, love and care packages (I really appreciated the fabric softener and and paper towels. As much as I seemed to favour the chocolate almonds, the little things meant a lot.)
If you weren’t BRILLIANT enough to hire people half way around the world to dance for your mother thi year, and are still struggling for a gift, show her the video below and just pretend you made it or something. You’ve got 20 minutes left to pull this together, kid. GO!
Love always, the chick who just found this incredible gif on a random message board that hasn’t been active since 2004:
Caturday Linksplosion: Meowigolds, Kitty Pryde and Nipnip PSAs
May 12th
Cat beard, cat beard, what you gonna do? What you gonna do when it sheds on you?
Via Joanne Casey
HA!
I tend to tone down the more… “eccentric” parts of my personality when I’m at work. I try to, at least. We all do, right?
I mean, most of young professionals would like be taken seriously in the workplace so we act accordingly, despite the fact that we might be a little bit wacky off the click. We behave in a manner that is mature(ish). We are composed(ish). We are downright solemn when we need to be.
And then something like this happens:
Photo by Ryan Crouse, via CBCnews.ca
When that photo came through the CBC Your News Community, I literally squealed “KITTY!” like a five year old, grinning from ear to ear… I’m smiling right now just thinking about it.
Ceiling cat bless Mr. Ryan Krouse from Saskatchewan for making my Friday afternoon!
That’s my Caturday story for this week, folks. If you need something more, watch this little orange kitten pwn some puppies (HA!) or, better yet, check these important Catnip PSAs designed by Christ Ritter (via Buzzfeed)
On to the, on to the, on to the Linkstuff:
Great Read: 3 Things Professional Women Should Stop Apologizing For, by Amber Mac.
Another Great Read: Is The Free Internet A New God? by Benhamin Jackson.
Found talent: This 18-year-old boy takes that annoying LMFAO song we all hate and makes it sound really, really, actually really good. Please, no man boob digs jerks. He’s cool.
Easter Egg: The Google Translate beatbox trick.
Stupid perverts: Man stabs his computer with a Samurai sword in an attempt to get rid of child porn as FBI agents raid his house.
Marketing face-palm: Some European clothing store has embedded digital “Facebook Like” counters on in-store hangers. No, seriously. #StealThemAll #YouGuysAreHip
WHY GOD, WHY?: Lisa Turtle completely wrecked herself with plastic surgery and what appears to be some sort of horrid skin lightener. Either that or she’s contracted some sort of uglifying disease, in which case I rescind everything that I’ve just so callously speweed out into onto the interwebs.
Image via Buzzfeed
But seriously though, I would totally rock the shirt Screech is wearing in that photo. Wouldn’t you? It’s very now.
Mother’s Day awws: Six generations of women in one photo. Nuts!
Cute old people: These men have been BFFs for a verrrry lonnnng time.
Why not?: Tanning mom gets and action figure. He-man’s head, Sarah Palin doll’s body. I’m pretty sure that’s what’s going on here.
We are all so small: Interactive ‘scale of the universe map is very, very cool.
Bwahaha: Pier collapses during prom photoshoot sending kids into the lake. It’s okay. Nobody was hurt (physically.)
Mouse shoes: I just want them. That’s all.
Funny shorts: This video about a boy and some chocolate and some ladies will make you laugh. It’s well done and very cute.
Blasphemous Holograms: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Freddie Mercury now. Go ahead and tell me that the world “blasphemy” should be reserved for gods so that I can go ahead and tell you that Freddie WAS a god so that you can go ahead and tell me he wasn’t so that I can CUT YOU. Go ahead.
Dream life: Did you know that you can be a professional friggin’ mermaid? Like Ariel, only less “I’m actually half fish”ier!
Saw that coming: The Time magazine “I feed my grown kid with my boobs” cover has spawned an internet meme.
Inspirational: Janitor Graduates from Columbia University After 12 Years of Classes and Full-time Job
Track of the week goes to Tumblr sensation Kitty Pryde with “OK Cupid.” This is the new Kreayshawn, ladies and gentlemen — and I’m not just saying that because VICE did okay?
I seriously can’t get enough of this chick’s style.
Speaking of Kreay though, this.
I’ve got to wake up hecka early tomorrow for a race. Like, a race that my boyfriend’s running in, not me. But still. I didn’t get much sleep last night and I am le tired 
NIZZLE, OUT!
Interview with the Bed Intruder: LOL @ ROFLcon III
May 11th
Hide ya kids, Hide ya wife, and hide yo husband ’cause she chatting with errybody out here.
I should probably clarify for those of you who aren’t familiar with Antoine Dodson or his meteoric rise to fame that my headline isn’t entirely accurate.
You see, homeboy is not the bed intruder — he’s the guy from the bed intruder song. The one whose sister almost got… yeah know. Intruded.
They didn’t invite the real bed intruder to ROFLcon because a) they haven’t found him yet and b) he’s a gross attempted rapist. And who wants that shick around?
This interview was actually a dream come true, as I’ve been in love with everything Antoine since 2010. It was entirely spontaneous too! Of all the people I contacted, Antoine Dodson was one of the only ones I couldn’t get a hold of, so I prepared zilch. Nothing. Then, lo-and-behold as I walk up to a lecture hall at MIT Saturday afternoon… BAM.
I took my shot and he was sweet as a peach. Genuinely funny and so kind. I can’t say enough about how much I dig this guy — and Antoine, if you read this, know that I will take you up on that hair hookup should I ever make it down to Huntsville.
Next up on the interview list? Scumbag Steve. Lookout for it this weekend!
Sleepless me and Harvard boys
May 10th
I met a dinosaur last week at the ROM.
In the summer between my second year and my third year of University, I was a legitimately nocturnal creature.
Breakfast came in the form of Chinese food at 5:00 p.m. and dinner was (usually) a fat wad of cash in my pocket at 3:00 in the morning. The better the tips, the bigger the wad. The bigger the wad, the more stoked I was to go party after work with my fellow bartenders and friends — well into the next day, sometimes.
It was a scene unlike any I’d ever known up until that point. I felt cool and I was in love with that.
Very, very late looking like crap after working a long shift.
On the nights I didn’t feel like going out, shutting ‘er down before sunrise was never an option with so much Redbull in my system — even if I was just at home playing GTA on the Xbox.
I didn’t have a tan come September, but I’d earned more money than all of my school friends combined (which would probably be a lot more money if any of my friends had actually worked that summer.)
When school returned, I stopped sleeping during the day and tarbending returned back to its rightful spot in my life as a “weekend only” part-time job.
It’s not a part of my life at all anymore, but I still struggle with insomnia. Always have. I think I have this — and also this.
It’s 2:38 a.m. now and I’m still working on a personal project of sorts. I should get back to it before I get into 4Chan and Craigslist. Then I’ll be up REALLY late.
Something for you, dear readers. Harvard athletes cover Carly Rae Jepson, and it is good:
Haaaaahvard. I love it there.
My Tee is neon green ’cause I’m the party, girl.
May 9th
We now interrupt your regularly scheduled geekery with yet another post about pretty clothes because hey, if there’s anything I like as much as a dope supercut or creatively placed Periodic Table of Elements, it’s a cute outfit.
Here’s the skinny: She Does the City has teamed up with Gap to host one “serious shopping event” at the retailer’s Bloor st. location on May 15th. There will be music. There will be Coconut Water. There will be giveaways and gift bags and goooood discounts.
As a fun little pre-cursor to the event, five Toronto bloggers were asked to come up with their own looks based on on of Gap’s recently relaunched classic T.
I was given the Mercer V-neck Pocket T in neon green, which I was obviously psyched about because, well… NEON GREEN. (click image above for elaboration.)
And yes, I did turn the belt I bought into a headband. It reminded me of a braid, and braids remind me of hair, and HEY – that’s what the stuff all over my head is called so Voila:
I came up with a secondary look too, because what if one of the other girls picked out THE EXACT SAME THINGS AS ME? What if? WHAT IF?
Also, I’m indecisive.
Ooooh, broody. Sorry guys – it’s hard to look normal in these. I should start a tumblr filled with funny fashion blogger poses. Never mind. Just googled it. Someone already did.
I did actually have to pee, kind of.
I called this look “Urban Glo-worm,” which really speaks to the fact that I wrote that description very very late last night.
I’m still recovering from ROFLcon, you see, literally rushing home after working all day to do laundry and hit the gym and other lifely things before a little bit of late night laurenoutlouding.
*sigh*, if this flurry of emails doesn’t SIMMAH DOWN I’m never going to get my interview videos up. LEAVE NIZZLE ALONE. See. me. pout:
I keed, I keed. Managing one young urban life is not hardship. Setting up something like this? Now that is dang hard work:
Hey girl, I like the way you Domino and then look up the word “Domino” to determine if it can be used as a verb or not.
One more game-related video for the road, ja? This one, a music video for Get By by Delta Heavy is excellent in a different way:
*shudder*
Bed time. Big day tomorrow! &News&News&News&News…
Befooore I crash though, I must note for those of you who don’t already know that today is my best friend Casie‘s birthday (er, was — I guess it’s past midnight now)! We’re going to do it up crafty this weekend
The cutest, right?
Go wish her a big happy one. I already did on the phone and Twitter and Facebook but I will again here because I LOVE YOU CAS! HBD
All of teh memes, dance dance dance: ROFLcon wrap party
May 6th
This… is exactly what it looks like: Antoine Dodson, Chuck Testa, Scumbag Steve, Double Rainbow Guy, Copper Cab and a few more accidental internet celebrities dancing on stage at a bar in Cambridge, Mass.
It’s been real, ROFLcon. F’real.
My full interview videos will be up this week, but for now you can sees some of the clips I processed last night on CBCnews.ca. How has the internet changed YOUR life?
Fantastic coverage from this weekend continues to roll out across the web. My Google alert on ROFLcon is pinging with something new almost every minute! Here are a few of my favourite pieces:
ROFLcon: What the internet talks about offline, by Christine Erickson for Mashable
Where Does Web Culture Go From Here? by Brian Raferty for Wired.com (also, this)
20 People You’ll Only Meet At ROFLcon, by Buzzfeed’s Katie Notopolous
All of Russ Martin’s ROFLcon coverage for Canada.com
Could Technology Tame the Internet Meme? by Mike Orcutt
Jonathan Zittrain Takes the Stage at ROFLCon, MediaShift’s J. Nathan Matias
Why Memes matter, or ‘What I learned at ROFLcon’ by Barb Darrow, GigaOm
OMFG It’s ROFLCon Time Again , by Derek Mead, Motherboard.
10 things I learned from Day 1 at ROFLcon, by Dave Eisenberg for BostInno
All of the memes… by Lauren Metter, Dig Boston
State of the Web Union: Supercuts, Lulz and Fanfic at ROFLcon III, Wired.com
The Three-Point Landing Supercut to End All Three-Point Landing Supercuts (Premiered at ROFLcon III, BOOYAH):
So good.
But alas, it’s time to get me back to Canada now… By car. THE HUMANITY!
LOL @ ROFLcon III: Photoblog One
May 5th
What up, Bromies?
I be coming at you live from MIT today, like some sort of brilliant genius who invents solar powered trash compactors over breakfast. Which is a pistachio muffin dipped in black coffee, obvs.
I can’t get enough of this place or this conference. It breaks my heart to know that it’s almost over, but we’ve gotten so much accomplished in the past 24 hours that it’s nearly unbelievable — especially considering the fact that I spent all of last night getting sick in my hotel room.
I’m done with car travel, by the way. Never again.
I’m still sick, but there is no way in aich-ee-double hockey sticks that I’d miss ROFLcon.
I had too many interviews lined up! Too many people to meet! Too many thoughts from smarter minds than mine to collect and push out into the Twittersphere!
“Create more value than you capture.” @moot quoting @timoreilly #ROFLcon || I reallllly like this. It should be the goal for content & life.
— Leslie Bradshaw (@LeslieBradshaw) May 5, 2012
So here I am. Gravol and Motrin keeping this train on the tracks (ish). I can’t wait to watch my interviews back… I have a feeling they might be kind of wonky – but really, when you’re interviewing this guy how can they be anything but?
I also talked to Chuck Testa, Antoine Dodson, Scumbag Steve, Double Rainbow guy, Liam Kyle Sullivan, Tron Guy, Chris Torres (Nyan Cat’s creator) and some other colourful characters.
I’ll be rolling out the interviews this week once I get a few minutes to edit them. For now though, please enjoy these iPhone ROFLPICS!
We’re about to head into the very last panel of the day, “Defending the Internet.”
It’s going to be brilliant. I already know it. And my boycrush Alexis Ohanian is on it so…
