Skip to content
Support Us

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Weird Wide Web: A Bebo comeback, Amazon art and a very silly app

All of your essential tech and social media news for the week in one byte-sized portion.

WELCOME TO THE Weird Wide Web – where we take a look at the week’s best offerings in tech and social media news.

Amazon art gallery of the week

(Image: Amazon)

For the cultured web-users among us, Amazon announced this week that it is partnering up with 150 galleries and art dealers to sell fine art through its new product Amazon Art, Gizmodo reports. The company will reportedly take between five and 20 per cent of all sales. Do you think we might be able to flog our finger paint masterpieces on there?

Silly app of the week

The daredevils in us want to give Send Me To Heaven (S.M.T.H) a go but the fear of screen scratches is just to much… This crazy app challenges you to throw your phone as high as you can and catch it. It measures the distance and places you on a leaderboard with other smartphone renegades, IGN reports. The app is available on Android only – obviously Apple are more concerned about potential damage to their precious iPhones. Also, it comes with this comforting disclaimer:

(Image: Carrotpop.com)

3D tour of the week

We can’t get enough of all the Google Streetview tours that have been cropping up lately. This week they set us loose on a luxary Emirates airbus, Wired reports. If you’re still clinging to your childhood like us you’ll have fun moving really quickly up and down the aisles like you’re running through the plane.

Bebo relaunch of the week

So apparently, Bebo is growing up. Michael Birch, who set up the social networking site and sold it for a heap of cash in 2008, has bought it back and this week put out a genuinely funny promotional video. Reminiscing about the site’s infamous ‘Whiteboard’ feature he said: “Over the past seven years nearly one million of these pictures have been drawn across the site, making it arguably the single biggest repository of illustrated c**k and b***s ever recorded”. Watch the full video:

(Video:Bebo/YouTube)

View all previous Weird Wide Webs>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
13 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Insider at RTE
    Favourite Insider at RTE
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 10:06 AM

    Could a rake of lads not push it on a bit?

    233
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gareth
    Favourite Gareth
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 10:24 AM

    @Insider at RTE: sexist

    93
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colette Kearns
    Favourite Colette Kearns
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 10:34 AM

    @Insider at RTE: I doubt it , if one of them pulled a muscle then they’d have a lawsuit on their hands!

    65
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tim McCormack29
    Favourite Tim McCormack29
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 9:28 AM

    Joke city..

    124
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Warren Mcdermott
    Favourite Warren Mcdermott
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 9:44 AM

    @Tim McCormack29: yeah cause no bus or couches break down in any other city in the world

    353
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The digenous
    Favourite The digenous
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 10:25 AM

    @Warren Mcdermott: You’re quick to have a go at Tim there mate!! Tell me this..when was the last time you actually saw ,’a couch’ broken down in any city in the world????

    91
    See 8 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Warren Mcdermott
    Favourite Warren Mcdermott
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 10:37 AM

    @The digenous: seen one in Sydney when I was living their also seen a broken down taxi in New York hold up traffic for ages, vehicles break down every day and some times takes time to move them doesn’t matter what city or town

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The digenous
    Favourite The digenous
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 10:51 AM

    @Warren Mcdermott: they are Coaches Warren. “Couches” as you posted don’t break down. You sit on them.

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Warren Mcdermott
    Favourite Warren Mcdermott
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 10:54 AM

    @The digenous: sorry about the spelling didn’t mean to upset u that much

    65
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jay Harmon
    Favourite Jay Harmon
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 10:54 AM

    @The digenous: He missed the sarcasm.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The digenous
    Favourite The digenous
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 11:01 AM

    @Jay Harmon: indeed he did Jay:-)

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aideen Pollard
    Favourite Aideen Pollard
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 11:01 AM

    @Warren Mcdermott: saw not seen

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Charlie B
    Favourite Charlie B
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 11:23 AM

    @The digenous: he gave your intelligence too much credit thinking you’d know he meant coaches.Warren, try understand some people struggle with sentences and words….and life.

    17
    ed w
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ed w
    Favourite ed w
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 5:38 PM

    @Tim McCormack29: amazing you cant a tow truck there to tow it of the luas at least

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Irish Spider-Man
    Favourite Irish Spider-Man
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 10:19 AM

    Should have built it underground. Our problems stem from the fact that politicians make decisions about infrastructure when they haven’t a clue

    95
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
    Favourite Fiona Fitzgerald
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 11:19 AM

    @Irish Spider-Man: That would make sense. It could still be done and no bus passengers would have to wait in the rain for a bus or tram ever again.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Dillon
    Favourite Alan Dillon
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 12:08 PM

    @Irish Spider-Man: Dublins problem is that culchie politicians who have no interest in Dublin being a premier city hold the purse strings. They’d rather upgrade a minor country road in their own constituency to ensure their re-election.

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Veron
    Favourite Con Veron
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 9:32 AM

    Things like this should be able to rectified in MINUTES !!!!! useless city management !

    194
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
    Favourite Fiona Fitzgerald
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 11:18 AM

    @Con Veron: Luckily it wasn’t clamped into the bargain.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Craic_a_tower
    Favourite Craic_a_tower
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 11:29 AM

    @Con Veron: yeah let’s station tow trucks large enough to pull busses on every corner of the city. How do you propose tow trucks get through the traffic when needed?

    30
    See 7 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kárl
    Favourite Kárl
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 12:23 PM

    @Craic_a_tower: Garda escort. It’s been done a few times before for when a Dublin bus broke down in a bad spot. They escorted a tow truck from one of their depots which are strategically placed aground the city centre. Perhaps have a tow truck available from Broadstone to cover the city centre area.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Craic_a_tower
    Favourite Craic_a_tower
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 12:46 PM

    @Kárl: and that is going to take MINUTES? Nonsense! Unrealistic

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kárl
    Favourite Kárl
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 1:42 PM

    @Craic_a_tower: well it might take fifteen minutes to get there, assuming that there is a structure on call system. Then about 10 minutes to attach a hitch/tow bar and pull vehicle of the tram line. These things to take time to do. You just can’t wave a magic wand for the problem to go away. Alternatively wait more than an hour for a tow car from a further destination.

    What’s your alternative solution please?

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Dillon
    Favourite Alan Dillon
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 2:37 PM

    @Kárl: Except this isn’t a Dublin Bus or CIE group vehicle. Why should CIE give access or help to a competitor ?

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kárl
    Favourite Kárl
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 3:38 PM

    @Alan Dillon: It’s not to help a competitor. It’s to clear the blockage so as CIE services can operate with minimum delay. CIE have the infrastructure. They would not be doing it for free. They would receive a call or charge.

    Just think, when the LUAS cannot operate, Dublin Bus accept their tickets. Not to help a competitor, but to get passengers moving, and LUAS pay Dublin bus for accepting these tights. It’s not a fee ride.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Craic_a_tower
    Favourite Craic_a_tower
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 4:01 PM

    @Kárl: who says there needs to be a solution for every possible problem? Sheer expense prohibits solutions for occasional problems. The same reason we don’t have snow ploughs. You sound like Homer when he took over the binmen.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kárl
    Favourite Kárl
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 5:18 PM

    @Craic_a_tower: errrr…we do have snow plough.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kárl
    Favourite Kárl
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 10:20 AM

    All too common in Dublin lately. LUAS system badly designed with too few escape lines for such instances. Dublin City Council should also have a city centre based towing company on call to move large vehicles out of the way when they break down in awkward spots. Sometimes the rescue vehicle has to come from as far away as Lusk. This is unacceptable.

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Dillon
    Favourite Alan Dillon
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 12:24 PM

    @Kárl: Its the city centre. The amount of space is at a premium and renting out a place big enough in the city centre area (if you can find it) is too costly for what is an occasional problem.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kárl
    Favourite Kárl
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 1:49 PM

    @Alan Dillon: It’s happening quite frequently now, as the city gets busier. You don’t need to rent out space. The facilities are there already. You task Dublin Bus who have depots in the city environs, with tow cars to react to this type of incident. They would only have to move the vehicle away from whatever is being obstructed, you a better position. Then, whoever the owner of the vehicle has engaged to come to their rescue can take over when they eventually arrive. The owner of the broken down vehicle would pay Dublin bus a small fee for the service.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Zmeevo Libe
    Favourite Zmeevo Libe
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 10:25 AM

    Have been sitting on a luas tram for the last 50 minutes. At every single stop the driver has to wait for the next stop to clear. Around me 200 people are on their phones cancelling meetings or explaining to bosses why they are late. It is beyond ridiculous!

    59
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute becca laste
    Favourite becca laste
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 12:36 PM

    @Zmeevo Libe: would they not hop off at an available stop and get into a taxi?

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Zmeevo Libe
    Favourite Zmeevo Libe
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 3:58 PM

    @becca laste: If we were near the centre, we would. Unfortunately we were at Windy Arbour at the time i was writing this.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Reuben Gray
    Favourite Reuben Gray
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 10:20 AM

    OK I know it’s not the same but there’s a video of passengers lifting a mini that was blocking the tracks of a tram in Nottingham. All you really need is one of those “stongmen” or “strongwomen” and a good rope to move a coach. A dozen or so passengers could probably push it out of the way.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Ó'Ríordán
    Favourite John Ó'Ríordán
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 10:57 AM

    This is why we don’t want a LUAS in Cork. Give us electric buses with dedicated lanes. Electric buses that aren’t on a fixed track can go around obstacles.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Towger
    Favourite Towger
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 11:10 AM

    @John Ó’Ríordán: In da Big Smoke we had those electric trolley buses over 100 years ago. Glad to see you are no longer 200 years behind.

    30
    ed w
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ed w
    Favourite ed w
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 5:40 PM

    @Towger: funny how plenty of European cities still have them , trolleybuses that is. its dublin that’s behind

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seth Mcguinness
    Favourite Seth Mcguinness
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 11:11 AM

    This is the third time if a few weeks now. A broken down bus on a particular area of tram track in the city brought the whole green line to a near standstill. It is wasn’t just the stops between St Stephen’s Green and from Dominick St, the trams were stopping at random stations for 20 minutes.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chin Feeyin
    Favourite Chin Feeyin
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 1:44 PM

    As far as I can make out, the bus was there for three hours.

    If so, that is far too long.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eug J Cummins
    Favourite Eug J Cummins
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 10:06 AM

    Puncture ??

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Charlie B
    Favourite Charlie B
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 11:24 AM

    negative comment…….

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anthony Joseph
    Favourite Anthony Joseph
    Report
    Nov 2nd 2019, 8:51 AM

    I have to say but luas has been problematic since Day 1

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute tipptop9
    Favourite tipptop9
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 1:01 PM

    It’s a bus ffs… Coach me hole

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rodney Williams
    Favourite Rodney Williams
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 1:32 PM

    If the Loobus had retractable buffers then the coach coild be shifted double quick

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds