Latest news with #GIPHY
Euronews
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
It's not a phase: How to celebrate World Goth Day in Europe
Five, six, grab your crucifix - and Robert Smith, because World Goth Day has arrived. First suggested on a MySpace blog in 2009 by a UK-based Goth DJ known as 'BatBoy Slim', Goth Day has since become a global annual celebration where "the Goth scene gets to celebrate it's own being." via GIPHY While most Goths prefer to stay out of the spotlight (unless carrying a black parasol), World Goth Day keeps things appropriately dark and inviting, with a range of community-hosted events that span the week. The 22 May date was originally chosen to highlight a special set of musical subculture-focused shows on BBC Radio 6, then stuck ever since. And why not? From dark wave DJ sets in Poland, to a gothic clothes swap in Dublin; Black pizza in London, and a trip back to the subculture's 80s, 90s and 00s origins at a club night in Madrid — there are plenty of opportunities knocking at your coffin. Plus, it's a great way to support your local Goth gang. Alternatively, you could just draw the curtains, blare some Bauhaus and be your usual black-hearted self with extra pride. After-all, some Goths have faced genuine persecution and violence just for daring to be different - one devastating example being the 2007 murder of Sophie Lancaster, a 20-year-old Goth from the UK. "There are quite a few Goths who have fought damn hard to retain their identity despite peer pressure, family pressure and indeed, any pressure to conform," the World Goth Day organisers state. "And if you've gone to all that trouble to preserve what you believe is the 'real you', don't you think you owe it to yourself to shine for a day?" Chipped nail polish, dancing skeletons, synth wave, hair spray, black cats, 'Bela Lugosi Is Dead'. Neon leg warmers, glow bands, pastel chokers, septum piercings, coffin-shaped cat trees, posters of Nick Cave and PJ Harvey. Goth is whatever you want it to be. There are no rules, baby! It's about breaking conventions and going against the bland, suffocating monotony of traditional societal expectations to spread your bat wings and express your truest, fang-bearing self. At its core, being Goth is about finding a curiosity and fondness for the things others find disturbing. From music to film to fashion to art, there's a focus on themes like melancholy, death, gore and rebellion, expressed through subversive aesthetics and lifestyle choices. The subculture's origins can be traced back to the UK's late 70s post-punk underground music scene, with record producer Martin Hannett notably describing the band Joy Division's music as 'Gothic' in 1979. It's a term that spread to encompass any bands with a certain melancholic sound. These included The Cure (even though Robert Smith would argue otherwise), Bauhaus, The Psychedelic Furs, Alien Sex Fiend and Siouxsie and the Banshees, to name but a few. Meanwhile, in America, deathrock emerged as a sort of sub-genre of Goth, similarly taking the anarchy ethos of punk music and immersing it in horror-inspired theatrics. While the 80s and 90s are still seen as Gothic hey days, it's a subculture that's managed to stick throughout the decades - albeit morphing into various subcategories such as 'Cybergoth' and 'Pastel Goth', which take inspiration from steam punk, BDSM, Lolita fashion etc to create new forms of contrasting expression within 'Trad Goth'. No longer a marker of only youth culture (although the #Goth has been used 4 million times on video sharing platform TikTok), many older adults that grew up being Goth are still putting on their studded leathers and setting their faces with white powder. Millennial Goths in particular have carved themselves a niche on YouTube, with 'Emily Boo' and 'Of Herbs and Altars' two of the most popular, sharing their looks and experiences within the scene and offering advice to "baby bats". While Mods and Rockers come and go, Goths are here to stay. And contrary to popular belief - they don't only wear black. via GIPHY You can celebrate wherever you want! Although official events are listed on the website for World Goth Day and are as follows: UK & Ireland 22 May: ACAB Celebrates World Goth Day - DJs, Alt Drag & Market (Dublin) 22 May: Cabinet Sinister Bite Me! At Lost Souls Pizza (London) 22 May: World Goth Day gig at O'Reilly's (Hull) 24 May: Goth Meet Up at The Ruin Bar and Kitchen (Birmingham) 25 May: Gothic Clothes Swap WGD at Pawn Shop (Dublin) Europe 23 May: Gothic ball at Klub UNDER (Belgrade, Serbia) 23 May: Bunkerleute Dark Underground Party at Waaiberg Event Hall (Leuven, Belgium) 23 May: World Goth Day celebrations at Emerald CLUB (Bucharest, Romania) 24 May: World Goth Day celebrations at the Undead Dark Club (Barcelona, Spain) 24 May: Spain Goth Day at Sala Pirandello I - II (Madrid, Spain) 24 May: Shadowplay Afterparty oficial IMAMX + WGD, at Paseo Del Pintor Rosales (Madrid, Spain) 24 May: Dark goth wave synth at Wydział Remontowy (Gdańsk, Poland) 24 May: (Un)Pure Session: World Goth Day Special at Vamptasia Club (Valencia, Spain) via GIPHY Well, if you insist. Here are some Gothic movie and music recommendations instead: 🖤📽️ Movies House of Usher (1960) — Dir. Roger Corman Eraserhead (1977) — Dir. David Lynch Hellraiser (1987) — Dir. Clive Barker Return of the Living Dead 3 (1993) — Dir. Brian Yuzna The Crow (1994) — Dir. Alex Proyas Suspiria (2018) — Dir. Luca Guadagnino 🖤🎶 Music Bauhaus: 'In the Flat Field' (1980) Joy Division: 'Closer' (1980) Siouxsie and the Banshees: 'Juju' (1981) The Cure: 'Pornography' (1982) — bonus shout-out to The Cure's 'Songs Of A Lost World', which made our best-of 2024 albums list) Cocteau Twins: 'Head Over Heels' (1983) Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds: 'Let Love In' (1994)
France 24
09-05-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Propaganda slip-up: Iran accidentally exposes sensitive missile data
The new ballistic missile, named "Qasem Basir", is the latest addition to Tehran's extensive family of ballistic missiles. It has a range of 1,300km, a lightweight carbon fibre body along with a 500kg warhead, and a camera to ensure precise targeting. Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, Iran's defence minister, who appeared prominently in the propaganda footage, claimed that the new missile system was developed based on experiences gained during two recent Iranian missile attacks against Israel in April and October 2024. "No defence system, neither THAAD nor Patriot, is capable of intercepting Qasem Basir missiles," Nasirzadeh asserted. In the version aired on television by state broadcasters, the image from the missile's camera was obscured with a black band covering a number at the bottom left corner. However, in an online version of the report posted by state media on social networks the black bar did not appear, revealing a "D" symbol alongside a decreasing number sequence from 3 to 1.2. The D figure refers to the missile's drag coefficient, indicating air resistance on the missile in the final moments before the impact. The inclusion of the sensitive data inadvertently provided Iran's adversaries with insights into the missile's behaviour during its final moments, enabling a clearer estimation of its potential speed. via GIPHY It's not a catastrophe, but it can help to 'fine tune' the defensive systems Farzin Nadimi is a military expert from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He explains the significance of the numbers: The 'D' refers to 'drag,' or 'fluid resistance', a physics term describing the force opposite to an object's motion within a surrounding fluid – in this case, air. When the number decreases from 3 to 1.4, it doesn't indicate the missile is accelerating; rather, it means the rate at which the missile's speed decreases is slowing down. Simply put, [the sudden decline in drag] suggests the missile is doing something to evade defence systems: either adjusting its warhead adjusts to an optimal angle to reduce air resistance, or engaging its final-stage engines. In either scenario, the missile's manoeuvrability is enhanced, reducing the available reaction time for defence systems. Now that adversaries have access to this data, it's not disastrous, but it does provide them with valuable insights into the missile's aerodynamic characteristics, helping them better calibrate their defence measures. Overall, Nadimi described the missile as an important advancement for Iran's missile programme. They implied lessons learned from previous attacks on Israel. Those attacks revealed that Iranian missiles lacked accuracy at ranges exceeding 2,000 km. To address this issue, Iran incorporated a camera system to adjust missile trajectories for increased accuracy, alongside employing a carbon fibre body, another significant enhancement.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The zipper merge explained and why you should use it in construction zones
Starting in early April, the New York State Department of Transportation began lane closures on the Interstate 490 bridges over the Erie Canal and Kreag Road. Drivers going through the work zone are asked to use a zipper lane to merge into the open lane. The westbound on-ramp at Exit 27 will be shut down, and I-490 westbound will be reduced to a single lane during construction. Beginning April 7, eastbound traffic on I-490 will also be narrowed to one lane, weather and scheduling permitting. Drivers moving through the area will need to follow a late-merge 'zipper' pattern, alternating turns to enter the open lane smoothly and safely. Here is some guidance from AAA on handling the zipper method as a driver: A zipper merge operates like a zipper on a jacket. Drivers approaching the merge must perform a late merge, taking alternating turns—similar to how the teeth of a zipper come together. Here's how it works: As you approach a lane closure in a construction zone on a crowded highway, resist the urge to merge early. Instead, stay in your lane until you reach the designated merge point. From there, drivers in both lanes should take turns merging—one by one—into the open lane, like the teeth of a zipper coming together. It's safer, smoother, and helps keep traffic moving. via GIPHY The zipper merge only works if drivers cooperate—taking turns and working together to keep traffic flowing. Maintaining a steady pace and avoiding last-minute braking helps keep everyone safer and traffic moving. A zipper merge is the quickest, most efficient way to move traffic in a construction zone. A 2013 study conducted in Minnesota found that it can reduce traffic backup lengths by up to 40%. When traffic flows at normal speeds with no significant slowdowns, merging early into the open lane is best before reaching the closure point. But no matter the traffic conditions, the key to a smooth merge—early or zipper—is driver cooperation and steady, predictable behavior. While some see the zipper merge as aggressive or unfair, studies show it eases congestion and encourages a more balanced, respectful traffic flow. Genae Shields is the business and development impact reporter working on mobility stories that dive into how people get around Rochester and its surrounding areas. As a member of the local community, Genae enjoys learning about newly emerging businesses and changes that impact Rochester's BIPOC and LGBTQ neighborhoods. She also enjoys supporting local artists and nonprofit organizations. Contact Genae at gshields@ This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Zipper merge explained and why it should be used in construction zones
Campaign ME
04-03-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
IKEA turns desktops into digital showrooms with ‘Iconic Outdoors'
Outdoor season is officially here, and with it comes the search for the perfect outdoor furnishings. Gardens, balconies, patios, terraces, and campout spots are all waiting to be transformed into inviting spaces. Al-Futtaim IKEA decided to take a fresh approach to inspiring customers – by bringing its outdoor collection to a place where people already spend much of their time: their computer desktops. Through its digital campaign 'Iconic Outdoors,' Al-Futtaim IKEA transformed its entire outdoor collection into downloadable desktop icons, available on its website. Instead of traditional product showcases, the campaign turned IKEA furniture into playful, interactive design elements, allowing users to furnish their digital landscapes just as they would in real life. 'IKEA is already well known in the UAE, so we asked ourselves, 'What else can we furnish?' and we landed on where people spend most of their time – their desktop,' says Carla Klumpenaar, General Manager of Marketing and Communications at Al-Futtaim IKEA UAE, Qatar, Egypt, and Oman. 'While the primary goal was awareness, the campaign's interactive nature naturally encouraged engagement. By allowing users to deconstruct, recreate, and play with the campaign visuals, we gave them full control over the experience, turning the campaign into a creative, hands-on activity.' The campaign launched with three videos, each furnishing a different scenic wallpaper – a desert campout, a beach, and a grassy plain. The digital-first initiative allowed users to replace standard folder icons with miniature IKEA outdoor products, reinforcing the idea that the brand can help turn any outdoor space into a retreat. The experience extended to social media, where Al-Futtaim IKEA uploaded the outdoor icons to GIPHY, enabling users to create virtual setups on Instagram Stories. A competition further encouraged engagement, with three winners having their designs showcased on digital screens inside IKEA stores. View this post on Instagram A post shared by IKEA UAE (@ikeauae) 'Iconic Outdoors was all about making IKEA the first choice for outdoor furniture in a way that stood out,' Klumpenaar explains. 'Engagement was measured through downloads of the icons and user-generated setups. This unique and interactive approach ensured IKEA stayed top of mind for outdoor furniture.' The campaign also revealed some interesting insights. 'The NÄMMARÖ collection remains a fan favourite—even in digital form. It's our most popular outdoor collection, and it's the one most people seemed to opt for when furnishing with the icons,' says Klumpenaar. 'Another interesting takeaway was the lack of pattern in the types of backgrounds people chose for their visuals. We got gardens, balconies, public parks, beaches, and some images chosen off Google. People were freestyling with it, which was really fun to see.' By transforming digital spaces into interactive brand experiences, Al-Futtaim IKEA took a playful yet strategic approach to outdoor season marketing. The campaign didn't just showcase furniture—it encouraged creativity, engagement, and personalisation, turning the simple act of browsing into an immersive experience. Once users had designed their dream outdoor setup on screen, the natural next step was to bring that vision to life in their own homes. And, as IKEA cleverly reminds us, once your desktop retreat is perfectly furnished, it might be time to shut your laptop and step outside for real. Credits Memac Ogilvy Dubai Hadi Ballout – Managing Director, Advertising – UAE Moemen Metwally – Creative Director Alicia McBride – Senior Art Director Carl Khoury – Senior Copywriter Joseph Al Khabbaz – Senior Graphic Designer Karl Hitti – Head of Social Ahmed Nour – Social Director Yara Maalouf – Senior Social Account Manager Layan Abdo – Social Account Executive Dana Salama – Community Manager Dina ElKharaz – Community Manager Kevin Kurian – Business Director Alaa Nour – Account Director Georges Enkiri – Senior Account Manager Nicole Correia – Senior Account Executive Al-Futtaim IKEA Carla Klumpenaar: GM Marketing, Communication & Interior Design. IKEA United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt and Oman Dina Al Sahhar: Regional Marketing Manager IKEA United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt and Oman Jay Quadras: Regional Digital Marketing Leader IKEA United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt and Oman Mohamed Maihoob: Regional Marketing Specialist IKEA United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, and Oman Houda Sfar: Regional Marketing Specialist IKEA United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, and Oman
Emirates Woman
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Emirates Woman
10 editor-approved books to add to your reading list
Life by Ruman Baig 26 seconds ago Winter is still ongoing in Dubai and if you're looking for ways on how to spend time indoors, we've got you. Lately, we've mad a conscious effort to put down our digital devices at the end of the day and pick a book that will keep us hooked. From light reads to historical fiction adventure — we've put together a list that covers it all. This season gives you the perfect excuse to stay indoors and curl up with captivating books. via GIPHY But with so many options, where do you begin? Fear not, fellow bibliophiles. This list offers 10 tantalizing books across various genres, guaranteed to transport you to their thrilling worlds, igniting your imaginations further. Historical Fiction Adventure: 'Project Hail Mary' by Andy Weir Ryland Grace wakes up on a spaceship with amnesia. Thrust into a thrilling quest for survival, he must piece together his mission and uncover the secrets of a global catastrophe. Weir, the mastermind behind 'The Martian,' delivers another science fiction masterpiece that will leave you breathless. Find the book at: Cozy Mystery Caper: 'The House in the Cerulean Sea' by T.J. Klune Linus Baker, a caseworker for a magical youth care agency, embarks on an unusual assignment – evaluating a young orphan with questionable magical abilities. This heartwarming and humorous fantasy with a touch of mystery will melt your heart. Find the book at: Non-Fiction Must-Read: 'Braiding Sweetgrass' by Robin Wall Kimmerer Experience the beauty and wisdom of the natural world through the eyes of a Potawatomi botanist. Kimmerer's lyrical prose explores indigenous knowledge, ecological balance, and the interconnectedness of all living things. Find the book at: Young Adult Fantasy: 'The Love Hypothesis' by Ali Hazelwood Olive, a brilliant PhD student, devises a fake-dating scheme to avoid her matchmaking friends. But the lines between reality and fiction blur when she chooses an infuriatingly attractive (and accomplished) professor as her pretend witty and charming romance is perfect for fans of slow-burn love stories. Find the book at: Chilling Horror: 'Mexican Gothic' by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Travel to the mist-shrouded Mexican countryside with Noemi Taboada, a socialite sent to check on her ailing cousin. This gothic horror masterpiece will keep you guessing until the very last page. Find the book at: Poetic Adventure: 'Piranesi' by Susanna Clarke Find it at: Get swept away by this captivating blend of mystery and fantasy. Piranesi, a man who has lived his entire life in a vast House filled with statues, embarks on a journey to unravel the truth about his world and himself. So, grab your favorite iced beverage, settle into a comfy spot, and let these ten captivating reads transport you to unforgettable summer destinations. Happy reading! You can buy the above mentioned books by clicking on the image, it will redirect you to the website. – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images: Supplied Amazon & Feature Image: Instagram @thewhiteocean
