INSTASNAPS OF THE MONTH
YANNY VS. LAUREL: The Internet’s Biggest Dilemma Since The Dress
Following in the footsteps of 2015’s viral internet sensation #Thedress, an audio clip/poll shared to Instagram on May 15 has divided the online community, ultimately resulting in a worldwide craze. Yanny or Laurel? That is the question that has kept everyone on the edge since and even reached the White House, whose staff weighed in on the universal debate in a special video. And while many people were convinced to be hearing ‘Yanny’, it was 100 percent ‘Laurel’ to others, and the story eventually went on and on for days. Mainstream media ultimately ruled that the original clip came from the vocabulary.com page for ‘Laurel’, which refers to a wreath worn on the head as a symbol of victory. Many theories have emerged on why people are hearing different words since then, with many internet users pointing out that the sound varies depending the level of frequency and type of speakers used to play the clip.
Burj El Murr Gets Striking Makeover with Colorful New Installation
A reminiscent of the Lebanese civil war, Beirut’s famous architectural landmark Burj El Murr (El Murr Tower) was recently given a colorful makeover courtesy of artist Jad El Khoury (also known as Potato NOSE). The installation, dubbed ‘Burj el Hawa’, consists of colored fabric attached to each of the building’s windows, amounting in a vibrant visual display that captures the eye from miles away. “Inspired by Marwan Rechmaoui’s "Monument for the living 2001-8" Beirut’s memorial of internal conflicts had to be transformed into a public art installation. Burj el Murr is now dancing with the wind! Big thanks to everyone who made this happen!!” El Khoury captioned his Instagram post. Pictures of the installation instantly circulated across social media and made it to a number of websites and blogs, all commending the exceptional work of the artist in breathing new life into an abandoned war monument.
Meet Jiff Pom
Jiff Pom, short for Jiff the Pomeranian is an Instagram star. In 2017, he set the world record for most Instagram followers for an animal with 8.4 million. Today, he's at 8.6 million. He works as a personality, meeting everyone from CEOS of major tech companies to beauty influencers. Recently, he helped Zuckerberg and company demonstrate Instagram's new AR Camera Effects platform. He's starred in the video for Katy Perry's "Dark Horse" and ads for Target and Banana Republic. And he won Nickelodeon's People's Choice Award for Favorite Instagram Pet in March. Note the fact that this dog accepts sponsored posts. When he's not using his celebrity status to help companies promote their products, Jiff enjoys dressing up as other furry creatures and taking selfies.