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In late October, amidst the tensions of a looming election, the world witnessed the birth of a new kind of democratic event - the celebrity lookalike contest. It all began with the Timothee Chalamet event in New York, when a bunch of mop-haired, square-jawed lookalikes descended upon Washington Square Park, all for a small trophy, a $50 cash prize, and the knowledge they (vaguely) resemble a Hollywood star. The contest was a raging success; hundreds of onlookers stopped by, there were four arrests, and Chalamet himself even turned up to meet his doppelgangers. And since then, dozens of copycat lookalike contests have popped up around the world. In Dublin, mulleted men in short shorts compared thighs in the hopes of having their likeness to Paul Mescal verified with 20 euros and a few pints. In Chicago, apron-wearing, bedraggled men resembling Jeremy Allen-White put it all on the line for $50 and a pack of cigs. And in San Francisco, a host of handsome South Asian men (and women looking for boyfriends) showed up to the Dev Patel lookalike contest. Now, it's New Zealand's turn. On Saturday 30 November, The Edge radio station is holding a Jason Momoa lookalike contest at Auckland's Mission Bay, with a winning prize of $1000. It's unclear exactly what the criteria is for these celebrity lookalike contests, but one thing is certain: they've been an exercise in pure, joyously human absurdity, and a rare example of a completely grassroots, organic online moment translating into real life events. But what's actually behind the sudden rise in celebrity lookalike contests? AUT communications lecturer and pop culture expert Thomas Watts says it's not necessarily a new thing - lookalikes and impersonators have always been around in popular culture. "Impersonators are quite an interesting phenomenon, because there's quite a lot of skill attached to them ... you start with the mannerisms, the movement, the voice, and the look almost comes after. "A lookalike contest is a much more simple exercise than an impersonator, per se, because you just need to look like the person to some extent." Watts says the celebrity lookalike contests may have seen a sudden rise in popularity because they're "fun and silly and easy to understand." "Someone either looks like Timothee Chalamet or they don't. Or people look like Timothee Chalamet to a certain extent, and then you have to try and work out what are the things that makes someone the most Timothee Chalamet, what are those kind of elements? "In terms of that sudden rise, it's got elements of a trend, but it's got very deep roots in the past. I think at its heart there's a level of celebrity culture that exists and we like celebrities, especially big celebrities, that there's enough of an understanding of who they are, for the average person to go, 'Oh yeah, I've got a friend that looks like Timothee Chalamet or Jason Momoa'. What makes them so popular and joyful? Celebrity lookalike contests are low stakes fun with just enough substance in them to keep people interested, Watts says. "They're a silly way for people to come together, and I think as humans, we love a bit of an abstract competition ... you still have heats and tasks that people have to do, there are challenges, and so as a result, you get a bit of an event out of that ... everyone's getting very emotionally invested into something that doesn't mean heaps to the functioning of a society, but is good, silly fun. "And then you have a lineup of a whole lot of people who have elements of Jason Momoa and you have to work out, what makes Jason Momoa, Jason Momoa. I'd love to see the criteria they're using to assess exactly all the things you need to do to be the most Jason Momoa lookalike. Do you prioritise hair over size? Do you get bonus points for tattoos? Does your acting ability slot in there? It's an interesting one." Where are the lookalike contests for women celebrities? The contests so far have largely all been for male celebrities, with the exception of a small Zendaya lookalike contest in Oakland on Wednesday. Watts suggests this discrepancy could be due to an element of discomfort in ranking and rating women. "There are a number of celebritiy lookalikes on social media, people that have made their own identity around looking or dressing like a celebrity. There are quite a few people who do this for Taylor Swift ... but with competitions, I think, you'd feel slightly less comfortable if you're assessing a female celebrity lookalike because of how they fit a beauty standard. "At that points it feels like you're objectifying the person which ends up feeling slightly arcaic, almost like a beauty competition, and I feel like you kind of ignore that with your Harry Styles and your Jeremy Allen White and your Heath Ledger, because I think you can ignore that question of objectifying and overly perceiving someone." Will the contests die down any time soon? Watts says we may be reaching the peak of the celebrity lookalike events. The nail in the coffin? When they stop being organic, fan-driven events, and start becoming tool for PR. "I think with a lot of these online trends, there's often the question of who's driving them ... maybe we'll see a large corporate do a celebrity lookalike event, or maybe a cringy political party doing that, and that will be where we kind of jump the shark, so they will die down. "With most of these things, there's always someone who's kind of pushing for it, you kind of need someone with some form of resource. In the case of the Timothee Chalamet one, there was a YouTuber driving it, in the case of Jason Momoa, the Edge radio station is driving that. "The woman who was trying to find someone who looked like Jacob Elordi in Melbourne, this is one of my favourites because it was very lowkey, very few people showed up. In fact I don't think any men showed up for the Jacob Elordi lookalike competition, so she ended up giving the cash prize to a guy that just happened to be in the park that she was in. A $50 cash prize, that's not bad. The public spectacle of it all Watts says the rise of celebrity lookalike contests is not unlike the viral mobilisation of flash mobs in the early 2000s. "I'm old enough to remember flash mobs before they got really uncool. People will say they were always uncool, I don't think that's true, I think flash mobs absolutely had their time in the sun because it was an interesting thing where there was an in group and an out group, and it was things that were organised online that enabled you to create your own lore around creating a bit of a public spectacle. "It was an interesting thing going on in a public space, and that's what's fun about all of these [lookalike contests], they're all taking place in public, which means there are people that know about what's going on, and there'll be people walking past bemused or confused, but it's really easy to get behind. "It's just good, dumb fun. It's like Bird of the Year ... it's a package to talk about how much we love birds, but it's the competition that is the vessel for that. This is a vessel for people to talk about our relationship with celebrity, and for that everyday punter who's always been told they look like Jason Momoa to be like, 'Yeah, and I'm gonna prove it now'. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.WuKong Education Named to the 2025 GSV 150 for Leading the Way in Education Technology
Social Media and Elections: Lessons from Hyogo / Competition to Rack Up Views Distorts Election Campaigns in Japan; Attracting Attention for Profit Often Higher Priority Than AccuracyThe United States has announced its cooperation with the Lebanese army to enforce a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, without deploying any U.S. combat troops in the area, a senior U.S. official stated on Tuesday. Labeling the ceasefire agreement as "a game-changer," the official indicated it would demonstrate to Hamas militants in Gaza that the conflicts there and in Lebanon were distinct and unconnected. The ceasefire is set to commence on Wednesday following an agreement brokered by the United States and France, as confirmed by U.S. President Joe Biden earlier on Tuesday. (With inputs from agencies.)
White House official says Pakistan long-range missiles can target US Islamabad's conduct raised "real questions" about its intentions, says Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer WASHINGTON: A day after the United States imposed sanctions over Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme, a senior White House official on Thursday said that the country is developing missiles that eventually could strike targets outside of South Asia, including the United States. Deputy national security adviser Jon Finer said Islamabad's conduct raised "real questions" about its intentions. "Candidly, it's hard for us to see Pakistan's actions as anything other than an emerging threat to the United States," Finer said in a speech to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The latest statement comes only a day after the US State Department said it was imposing additional sanctions related to Pakistan's ballistic missile programme, targeting four entities that it said were contributing to the proliferation or delivery of such weapons. The statement, issued on the State Department's website, said that the decision was taken “in light of the continuing proliferation threat of Pakistan’s long-range missile development”. It added that the four entities were being designated for sanctions pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 13382, which targeted proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. "Pakistan’s National Development Complex – which is responsible for Pakistan’s ballistic missile program and has worked to acquire items to advance Pakistan’s long range ballistic missile program – and Affiliates International, Akhtar and Sons Private Limited, and Rockside Enterprise – which have worked to supply equipment and missile‐applicable items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, including its long range missile program – are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 Section 1(a)(ii) for having engaged, or attempted to engage, in activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery (including missiles capable of delivering such weapons), including any efforts to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer, or use such items, by Pakistan," read the statement. However, Islamabad reacted strongly to the development, terming the the decision as "biased" and stressing that the step from the US has "dangerous implications for strategic stability of our region and beyond". "Pakistan’s strategic capabilities are meant to defend its sovereignty and preserve peace and stability in South Asia. The latest installment of sanctions defies the objective of peace and security by aiming to accentuate military asymmetries. Such policies have dangerous implications for strategic stability of our region and beyond," Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement. The Foreign Office stressed that the county's strategic programme is a sacred trust bestowed by 240 million people upon its leadership, adding that the sanctity of this trust, held in the highest esteem across the entire political spectrum, cannot be compromised. In September this year, Washington targeted five entities and one individual with sanctions, which were involved in the expansion of ballistic missiles and controlling missile equipment and technology to Pakistan. Department spokesperson Matthew Miller alleged that the Beijing Research Institute of Automation for Machine Building Industry had worked with Pakistan to procure equipment for testing rocket motors for the Shaheen-3 and Ababeel systems and potentially for larger systems. However, Pakistan categorically dismissed "unilateral" US sanctions on technology companies allegedly linked to the country's ballistic missile programme, calling them "unfair, unfounded, and uncalled-for". "Pakistan considers this action as biased and politically-motivated. Similar listings of commercial entities in the past were based on mere suspicion; involved items not listed under any export control regime and yet were considered sensitive under broad, catch-all provisions," said Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa) had said. Similarly, the US — in October 2023 — imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies for supplying missile-applicable items to Pakistan. The sanctions also affected China-based firms Hubei Huachangda Intelligent Equipment Co, Universal Enterprise, and Xi’an Longde Technology Development Co. Pakistan-based Innovative Equipment and a Chinese national were sanctioned for knowingly transferring equipment under missile technology restrictions. 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T.J. Holmes has shared some disappointing news on social media ahead of Thanksgiving, and has been inundated with support from his loyal fans. The former GMA anchor took to Instagram on Tuesday after a trip to the doctors, having admitted that he had been in "severe" pain following his participation in the New York Marathon earlier in November. The star found out during his visit that he had damaged his ligament, resulting in him needing to wear a leg brace for the next six weeks. He shared several photos of his trip to the doctors, and wrote alongside them: "Damn. DAMN. DAMN!!! Hard words for a runner (like me) to hear: 'You need to stop running.' "Post-marathon pain got severe enough that I went back to the doctor who tells me I possibly have a ligament tear ... or a ligament strain, at best. He put me in a brace and told me not to run for the next 4-6 weeks. Guess that gives me enough time to get ready for #NYCMarathon2025." Fans were quick to respond to T.J.'s update, with one writing: "Sorry to hear that. Wishing you a speedy recovery TJ.," while another wrote: "Looks painful! Take care." A third added: "Man.....you’d better listen to your Doc. I continued to walk on concrete after they told me to stop. Cartilage GONE!!! Had to get the whole knee replaced. Be safe." T.J. ran the NYC Marathon shortly after being hospitalized while taking part in the Chicago Marathon. He completed the miles while being cheered on by his family, including 11-year-old daughter Sabine, who stood in the crowds with a handmade sign reading "We love you T.J. and Amy!" The star and his girlfriend Amy Robach discussed his ordeal during the Chicago Marathon on their podcast, Amy & T.J., shortly after the race. They explained that around mile 21, T.J.'s condition began to rapidly deteriorate. "All of a sudden, you went so pale, and you just started vomiting, like, on the street," Amy recalled. That's when things took a serious turn, with paramedics stepping in to assist. "They said, 'We're gonna call an ambulance,' because they just got nervous at that point and understandably so," she continued. While he recovered in time to run the New York City Marathon, that wasn't without its own series of unfortunate events. The star wrote about his experience shortly after completing the race, writing: "Crossed the finish line but it was an extraordinary journey to get there! "A wild and unexpected race day that included an impromptu press conference with Gov. Hochul, tons of Twizzlers, a collision on the course, a powwow with a former First Daughter and an Oscar winner, and iPhone chafing ... and that’s just for starters. The last five miles has a tale of its own!"2024 wasn’t an earth-shaking year for new tech products, but it was significant when it comes to the tech industry’s impact on society and vice versa. Tech titans had a big impact on the 2024 election, starting with Elon Musk, whose net worth exceeds $400 billion thanks to his work and investments at several tech companies, including Zip2, PayPal, SpaceX, Tesla, SolarCity and Neurolink. He’s also the owner of Twitter, but that subtracted from his financial net worth while increasing his political clout. Although you can’t point to one thing that turned the election, Musk’s endorsement and financial support were a major boon to the Trump campaign. Musk wasn’t the only tech billionaire to endorse the president-elect. Despite Silicon Valley’s liberal tradition, a number of other tech moguls did their share, including Oracle founder Larry Ellison, PayPal and Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel, and Netscape author and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen. Tech’s cozy relationship with the new administration didn’t end on Nov. 5. Since then, Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos have donated to Trump’s inaugural fund. Vice President-elect JD Vance, in addition to being a best-selling author, headed up a venture capital firm that invested in tech companies. On more than one occasion, Vance visited Silicon Valley to raise funds for the Trump-Vance ticket. There has also been legislation around tech, including a recently passed Australian law that would ban social media for anyone under 16. There were numerous state laws introduced in the U.S. around regulating artificial intelligence. Though it’s still not a law, the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act passed the Senate 91-3. The European Union passed an act regulating AI. Related Articles Though it’s not clear when it will ship, Meta announced its Orion AR Glasses, the company’s first true augmented reality glasses that feature holographic displays that can superimpose computer-generated images over what you’re seeing in the physical world. Using AI, they can also interpret and explain what you’re seeing. These glasses are probably still a few years away, but Meta has had success this year with its current generation Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses. The glasses don’t have a smart display, but they play music, enable phone calls, read out text messages and describe what you’re looking at, which they see through a camera on the frames. It’s too early to say for sure, but it’s quite possible that future iterations of smart glasses will replace smartphones for many people, putting Meta in a good position to eventually compete with Apple, which dominates the U.S. smartphone market. We’re also seeing growth in the smart ring category. Oura Ring, which popularized the category, came out with its new Oura Ring 4 in 2024. Ringconn, another smart-ring maker, also updated its offering, but 2024 is also the year that a major company, Samsung, entered the market. It’s too early to tell whether smart rings will get as much traction as smart watches, but they do some of the same tasks, especially for health and fitness, such as heart rate and blood oxygen sensing. Meta also has its Quest VR headset, but now Apple is in that space with its 2024 introduction of the Apple Vision Pro, a very expensive VR/AR headset that Apple bills as “spatial computing.” Generative AI was the big story last year, but there were lots of new developments in 2024, Both Apple and Google made their annual smartphone and watch announcements this fall. Apple’s new iPhone 16 Series includes advanced AI-powered features such as Image Playground for photo and video editing and features that, according to Apple, help you “write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly.” Apple does the processing on the phone itself, and not the cloud, which is pretty amazing considering that phones have limited memory, storage and processing power compared with cloud-based systems. Google’s 2024 Series 9 phones have the company’s Gemini AI built in. You can now engage in a conversation with your phone with it understanding context. For example, you could say “how old is Tom Cruise,” and after you get the answer ask, “where was he born.” This contextual conversation mode is showing up in many AI products, including popular Generative AI services such as ChatGPT. Microsoft has also integrated AI into its Windows operating system, and Apple Intelligence is now built into MacOS. Google, in addition to building AI into its hardware, introduced Google Gemini Advanced, which, when you ask it what is does, says it’s “designed to excel at complex tasks like logical reasoning, coding, following intricate instructions, and creative collaboration.” The news isn’t entirely good for tech. There was backlash in 2024 that includes layoffs at many tech companies (along with some rehiring after the 2023 layoffs), global anti-trust actions against big tech, including Google, Amazon, Meta and Apple, and increased concerns about mental health and well-being on social media and other tech products. I’m not a fortune teller, but I’m pretty sure 2025 will bring lots of new advancements to tech, including further integration of AI into everyday products. It will also be a tumultuous year as the new administration takes over with lots of likely tech announcements, especially given the relationship between the incoming president and tech billionaires including Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy and others. We’ll see an increased interest in cryptocurrency, AI regulation and a revisiting of rebates and subsidies of energy-saving tech. Whatever comes, I’m wishing you a happy, healthy and calm new year. Related Articles
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PARIS (AP) — France’s president and prime minister managed to form a new government just in time for the holidays. Now comes the hard part. Crushing debt , intensifying pressure from the nationalist far right, wars in Europe and the Mideast: Challenges abound for President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Francois Bayrou after an already tumultuous 2024. The most urgent order of business is passing a 2025 budget. Financial markets, ratings agencies and the European Commission are pushing France to bring down its deficit, to comply with EU rules limiting debt and keep France’s borrowing costs from spiraling. That would threaten the stability and prosperity of all countries that share the euro currency. France’s debt is currently estimated at a staggering 112% of gross domestic product. It grew further after the government gave aid payments to businesses and workers during COVID-19 lockdowns even as the pandemic depressed growth, and capped household energy prices after Russia invaded Ukraine. The bill is now coming due. But France’s previous government collapsed this month because Marine Le Pen’s far-right party and left-wing lawmakers opposed 60 billion euros in spending cuts and tax hikes in the original 2025 budget plan. Bayrou and new Finance Minister Eric Lombard are expected to scale back some of those promises, but the calculations are tough. “The political situation is difficult. The international situation is dangerous, and the economic context is fragile,” Lombard, a low-profile banker who advised a Socialist government in the 1990s, said upon taking office. “The environmental emergency, the social emergency, developing our businesses — these innumerable challenges require us to treat our endemic illness: the deficit,” he said. “The more we are indebted, the more the debt costs, and the more it suffocates the country.” This is France’s fourth government in the past year. No party has a parliamentary majority and the new Cabinet can only survive with the support of lawmakers on the center-right and center-left. Le Pen — Macron’s fiercest rival — was instrumental in ousting the previous government by joining left-wing forces in a no-confidence vote. Bayrou consulted her when forming the new government and Le Pen remains a powerful force. That angers left-wing groups, who had expected more influence in the new Cabinet, and who say promised spending cuts will hurt working-class families and small businesses hardest. Left-wing voters, meanwhile, feel betrayed ever since a coalition from the left won the most seats in the summer's snap legislative elections but failed to secure a government. The possibility of a new no-confidence vote looms, though it's not clear how many parties would support it. Macron has repeatedly said he will remain president until his term expires in 2027. But France's constitution and current structure, dating from 1958 and called the Fifth Republic, were designed to ensure stability after a period of turmoil. If this new government collapses within months and the country remains in political paralysis, pressure will mount for Macron to step down and call early elections. Le Pen's ascendant National Rally is intent on bringing Macron down. But Le Pen faces her own headaches: A March court ruling over alleged illegal party financing could see her barred from running for office. The National Rally and hard-right Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau want tougher immigration rules. But Bayrou wants to focus on making existing rules work. “There are plenty of (immigration) laws that exist. None is being applied," he said Monday on broadcaster BFM-TV, to criticism from conservatives. Military spending is a key issue amid fears about European security and pressure from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for Europe to spend more on its own defense. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who champions military aid for Ukraine and ramping up weapons production, kept his job and stressed in a statement Tuesday the need to face down ‘’accumulating threats'' against France. More immediately, Macron wants an emergency law in early January to allow sped-up reconstruction of the cyclone-ravaged French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean off Africa. Thousands of people are in emergency shelters and authorities are still counting the dead more than a week after the devastation. Meanwhile the government in the restive French South Pacific territory of New Caledonia collapsed Tuesday in a wave of resignations by pro-independence figures — another challenge for the new overseas affairs minister, Manuel Valls, and the incoming Cabinet. Associated Press writer David McHugh in Frankfurt contributed.The AI Chip Rivalry Heats Up! Nvidia’s Bold Move into Robotics
Here's who Donald Trump could pick for attorney after Matt Gaetz's flame-outANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Vladislov Goldin and Nimari Burnett scored 17 points apiece and Tre Donaldson and Danny Wolf posted double-doubles to lead Michigan to a 112-64 romp over Western Kentucky on Sunday night, snapping a six-game win streak for the Hilltoppers. Goldin made 7 of 8 shots with two 3-pointers and 1 of 2 free throws for the Wolverines (10-3), whose three losses this season have been by a combined five points. Burnett did most of his damage on 5-for-7 shooting from 3-point range. Donaldson totaled 12 points and 11 rebounds for his first career double-double, while Wolf finished with 12 points and 10 boards for his sixth of the season. Sam Walters scored 13 off the bench for Michigan and Roddy Gayle Jr. pitched in with 11 points and four assists. Don McHenry sank three 3-pointers and scored 18 to lead Western Kentucky (9-4). Julius Thedford scored 11 on 3-for-16 shooting. Enoch Kalambay added 10 points. Gayle and Goldin both had 11 points to guide Michigan to a 59-31 advantage at halftime. The Wolverines shot 57.6% from the floor and made 11 of 21 from 3-point range in posting their highest scoring half of the season. The Wolverines topped the century mark on 3-pointer by Danny Wolf with 6:05 remaining for a 102-52 lead. It was the first time the two teams squared off in 17 years. Michigan has won 4 of 6 all time against the Hilltoppers. Michigan travels to play Southern California on Saturday in a Big Ten Conference matchup. Western Kentucky travels to play Liberty on Thursday in a Conference USA opener. ____ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-toWp-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
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The Houston Rockets and Miami Heat did not wait for New Year’s Eve to set off some fireworks. Tensioned flared as the Heat led the Rockets, 99-94, with just over 30 seconds left in the contest at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. As Miami prepared to inbound from the sideline, Rockets forward Amen Thompson got into it with Heat guard Tyler Herro. Thompson grabbed Herro by the jersey and slammed him to the ground. Terry Rozier immediately came to Herro’s aid and tackled Thompson. Jalen Green also got entangled in the tussle as players and referees tried to diffuse the situation. Chaos ensues at the end of Heat vs. Rockets Four players and two coaches were ejected after this scuffle. pic.twitter.com/suYWuxrX8B Here’s another angle of Thompson’s takedown of Herro and the ensuing chaos. Can't lose your composure like that... pic.twitter.com/5DDAWJldAy — HEAT on FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Heat) December 30, 2024 Herro, Thompson, Rozier, and Green were all ejected from the contest. Rockets coaches Ime Udoka and Ben Sullivan were also tossed. The entire incident happened just moments after Rockets veteran Fred VanVleet was also ejected for bumping into referee Marc Davis . Herro got the last laugh as the Heat held on for a 104-100 win. He also appeared to be in good spirits as his attacker was forced to leave the floor. “Go home bro, you lost!” Herro was seen saying as Thompson walked off the floor. The Heat guard was the star of the night with a game-high 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting to go along with six rebounds and nine assists. This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.Kaduna back on path to peace, security, growth — Gov Sani
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