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A new marketing campaign for Icelandic tourism takes aim at Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, mocking his recent video announcement of his company’s name change to Meta .

The video, released by Inspired by Iceland, a public-private entity that promotes Iceland and its products, featured a Zuckerberg lookalike named “Zack Mossbergsson” and identified as Iceland’s chief visionary officer.

Throughout the parody, Mossbergsson pokes fun at Zuckerberg’s infamous stiffness.

“Hello and welcome to this very natural setting,” Mossbergsson deadpans to the camera.

“Today I want to talk about a revolutionary approach to connect our world without being super weird.”

“Some said it’s not possible. Some said it’s out of reach. To them, we say it’s already here. Seriously. Look, it’s right here,” he adds while gesturing out the window to a snow-covered Icelandic landscape.

Mossbergsson goes on to introduce the “Icelandverse,” which is, as he describes it, “enhanced actual reality without silly looking headsets,” — a clear dig at Zuckerberg’s ambitions for a so-called metaverse virtual reality world .

“It’s completely immersive with water that’s wet,” Mossbergsson goes on, adding that the “Icelandverse” comes complete with “skies you can see with your eyeballs.”

Some said an open-world experience this immersive wasn’t possible. But it’s already here. And you don’t even need silly VR headsets. Introducing, ✨Icelandverse✨ #icelandverse pic.twitter.com/b1cf1REKl9 — Inspired by Iceland (@iceland) November 11, 2021

“The Icelandverse is unlike any other open-world experience with ‘-verse’ in name, because it’s real. Plus, you don’t need a funny-looking VR headset,” the caption to the video on YouTube reads.

Zuckerberg responded to the video on Facebook, taking it in stride.

“Amazing. I need to make a trip to the Icelandverse soon. Glad you’re wearing sunscreen too,” he said , referring to one scene in the video in which Mossbergsson’s face is caked in sunscreen, mimicking an embarrassing incident for Zuckerberg last year .

The video had racked up more than 274,000 views on YouTube by late Friday.

“Metaverse” has become a major talking point in corporate America since Facebook announced its rebrand last month, with companies from Nike and Disney to dating app Bumble talking about how they’re going to capitalize on what some believe will be the next evolution of the internet.

The term, coined in the 1992 sci-fi book “Snow Crash,” refers to a next-generation internet access through augmented and virtual reality hardware.

In a demo introduced by Zuckerberg last month, a user wearing a headset walked the streets of ancient Rome, while another attended a virtual reality rock concert and afterparty.

Zuckerberg said the company plans to spend  billions of dollars on developing the metaverse , and added that he hopes to have 1 billion people join the virtual world in the next ten years. Ad dollars from Facebook’s core products will supplement the development of the augmented reality project, which the company has said will not be profitable for years. 

Representatives for Facebook did not immediately return The Post’s request for comment on the “Icelandverse” video.

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Iceland roasts Facebook in tourism ad promising ‘Enhanced Actual Reality’

A video advertises the “Icelandverse” as a magical place where “water is wet”

Iceland has long attracted tourists with picturesque geothermal lagoons and the dare of sampling fermented shark meat. But lately, it seems like the country — or at least its official tourism board — also wants to be known for Internet shenanigans. Its latest bit, released Thursday, is a clever promotional video that takes not-so-subtle shots at Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his instantly memed Metaverse .

The video begins by introducing a “Chief Visionary Officer” named Zack Mossbergsson who sports Zuckerberg’s Augustus Caesar haircut and black crew-neck sweater. “Hi, and welcome to this very natural setting,” the look-alike says inside a sleek room reminiscent of the lair where Zuckerberg announced Facebook was rebranding to Meta.

“Today, I want to talk about a revolutionary approach on how to connect to our world without being super weird,” the doppelganger says, going on to introduce the “Icelandverse” as a place you can visit to experience “enhanced actual reality without silly-looking headsets.”

Mossbergsson mimics Zuckerberg’s stilted speech and awkward energy while delivering lines such as “In our open-world experience, everything is real,” while struggling to open a sliding-glass door. Donning a silica mud mask — both a reference to bathers at the Blue Lagoon and a jab at the Internet-famous paparazzi shot of a zinc-covered Zuckerberg eFoil surfing in Hawaii — Mossbergsson promises Iceland has “water that’s wet” and “humans to connect with.”

When Zuckerberg revealed in October that Facebook was assuming a new name, the Internet had a field day dissecting the 80-minute video announcement. The endeavor goes far beyond Facebook’s roots as a social network, shopping portal and dating app by offering users a virtual universe where people can live as avatars.

A local’s guide to Reykjavik, Iceland

Some of Visit Iceland’s earlier stunts include producing a music video about turning sweatpants into hiking boots and encouraging potential visitors to record cathartic screams that could be played across the country’s rocky tundra. In 2017, the tourism board released the “ hardest karaoke song in the world ” with a bunch of words most people can’t pronounce, such as bílaleigubíll.

Should the video inspire a desire to visit Iceland, go for it. During the coronavirus pandemic, the country was one of the earliest international destinations to accept American tourists, reopening in June 2020. These days, vaccinated travelers from the United States are allowed to visit without quarantine. Unvaccinated people must take two tests and quarantine for five days.

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Bad behavior: Entitled tourists are running amok, defacing the Colosseum , getting rowdy in Bali and messing with wild animals in national parks. Some destinations are fighting back with public awareness campaigns — or just by telling out-of-control visitors to stay away .

Safety concerns: A door blew off an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 jet, leaving passengers traumatized — but without serious injuries. The ordeal led to widespread flight cancellations after the jet was grounded, and some travelers have taken steps to avoid the plane in the future. The incident has also sparked a fresh discussion about whether it’s safe to fly with a baby on your lap .

Iceland Skewers Mark Zuckerberg's Metaverse With New Tourism Ad

The icelandverse looks much more enjoyable than facebook's imaginary metaverse..

Iceland released a new tourism ad on Thursday, poking fun at Facebook’s (sorry, Meta ’s) recent promises for how we’re all going to live in the future. But Iceland’s version of Mark Zuckerberg doesn’t want to sell you on visiting the sci-fi dystopia that we were all warned about for decades. No, Iceland just wants you to see its geysers and stuff.

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“Today I want to talk about a revolutionary approach on how to connect our world, without being super weird,” the tour guide explains in the new ad.

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“Some said it’s not possible. Some said it’s out of reach. To them, we say, it’s already here. Seriously, look, it’s right here,” he says, gesturing out the window at the snowy scene behind him.

“And what do we call this not-so-new chapter in human connectivity? The Icelandverse. Enhanced, actual reality, without silly-looking headsets,” the guide says.

The ad, which is available on YouTube , only gets more ridiculous from there with its parody of Zuckerberg and his recent concept video for the metaverse, something he believes in so much that he changed Facebook’s corporate name to Meta. The Icelandic host’s pale white face even seems to be a tribute to Zuck’s rather extreme suns creen habits .

But Zuck’s vision of the future alone is obviously ripe for ridicule, given the fact that 1) his latest concept video was pure fantasy , and 2) he still hasn’t made VR hardware that looks any less dumb than the headsets of the 1980s and 90s . Oculus might be changing its name , but it’s still a bulky mess.

Iceland is desperate to get tourists back into the country, with tourism accounting for almost 9% of the nation’s GDP before the pandemic and employing roughly 30,000 people. But covid-19 obviously put the brakes on tourists visiting its scenic vistas—though Iceland is looking to lure those people back with clever ads.

Iceland has fared exceptionally well from a public health perspective during the global health crisis, with just 15,140 cases of the disease and 34 deaths since the pandemic began. Iceland also has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, with 89% of adults fully vaccinated, and many of those people already getting their booster shots .

But if you’re looking to travel to Iceland, make sure you get vaccinated against covid-19. Travel to Iceland is permitted for the vaccinated or for those who can prove they’ve been infected with covid-19 in the past . You’ll also need a negative covid-19 test within 72 hours of getting on your flight.

“The Icelandverse is a world with possibilities so endless they’ll be here forever,” the narrator of the new ad explains.

“So join us today, or tomorrow. Or whenever. We are really easy going.”

About Iceland

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HILARIOUS: Iceland mocks Facebook’s Metaverse with new tourism ad

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A new tourism campaign from ‘Inspired by Iceland’ takes aim at Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

The video hilariously mocks Zuckerberg’s recent video announcement of his company’s name change to Meta.

Iceland’s parody features a Zuckerberg lookalike, “Zack Mossbergsson” who pokes fun at Zuckerberg’s notorious stiffness.

“Hi and welcome to this very natural setting,” Mossbergsson says as he looks expressionless down the barrel of the camera.

“Today I want to talk about a revolutionary approach to connect our world without being super weird.”

“Some said it’s not possible. Some said it’s out of reach. To them, we say it’s already here. Seriously. Look, it’s right here,” he continues while pointing out the window to an Icelandic snowscape.

Mossbergsson introduces the “Icelandverse,” which he describes as an, “enhanced actual reality without silly looking headsets.” It’s a clear jab at Zuckerberg’s ambitions for a metaverse virtual reality world.

Throughout the ad he encourages viewers to visit the ‘Icelandverse’, its main selling points being “water that is wet” and “skies you can see with your eyeballs.”

At one point Mossbergsson appears in the video doused in sunscreen, mimicking the hilarious meme of Zuckerberg lathered in a full face of sunscreen.

The internet reacts

Despite all the not-so-subtle digs, Zuckerberg responded by taking it all in his stride.

“Amazing. I need to make a trip to the Icelandverse soon. Glad you’re wearing sunscreen too,” the Facebook founder commented on the video.

The video has gone viral since it was first posted just a few days ago, racking up more than 800,000 views on YouTube.

It’s been well received with one viewer commenting: “This is the best thing I’ve watched on the internet in a long time. Thank you.”

“Whoever thought of the idea for this commercial, deserves a year’s bonus for the brilliant ad. Can’t wait to visit,” added another.

Watch the full video here.

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Tags: facebook , Iceland , tourism campaign

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Icelandverse

Iceland tourism ad expertly roasts Mark Zuckerberg's metaverse

A much-needed reminder that the real world is still very much worth living in.

Facebook’s Meta rollout/rebrand/deflection last month was as weird, uncomfortable, and perplexing as many anticipated... so much so that entire countries are now roasting the damn thing. A new, two-minute PSA put out by a tourism group in Iceland yesterday introduces us to “Zack Mossbergsson,” the “Chief Visionary Officer” of the Icelandverse who bears an uncanny resemblance to a certain uncanny Big Tech villain.

Does that technically make the promo meta-Meta...? No clue, but good Lord is the commercial incredibly cute and funny, not to mention extremely effective at making us want to hop a flight over to Iceland tomorrow. Check it out below:

So real you can practically touch it — “Hi, and welcome to this very natural setting,” Mossbergsson opens before introducing the world to the Icelandverse, a “revolutionary approach” in human connectivity. In other words, just going out and experiencing new places without the aid of AR/VR, not to mention the knowledge that Zuckerberg is breathing down your digital neck. “Enhanced actual reality without silly-looking headsets,” Mossbergsson explains. Consider us sold.

Convinced before we saw the ad — As great as the Icelandverse appears, it’s not like we really needed much convincing to stay the absolute hell away from all things Meta. Despite Zuckerberg’s attempts to assuage our fears , it’s hard to get amped for a product that is already backtracking on its promise to go easy on facial recognition tech, among our myriad other concerns. Time will tell if Meta actually delivers the revolutionary product it is promising, but we aren’t exactly expecting to change our minds anytime soon.

UPDATE: Facebook/Meta reached out to inform us that “Mark” (just Mark) both has seen and loves Iceland’s dunk video, and is not at all planning to buy the country for himself as retribution. “Amazing. I need to make a trip to the Icelandverse soon. Glad you're wearing sunscreen too,” Zuckerberg commented on the video’s Facebook upload alongside a laugh-crying face emoji. If you are near the Iceland area, please consider evacuating immediately.

Iceland’s New Tourism Ad Is A Hilarious Roast Of Mark Zuckerberg’s Metaverse

If Iceland’s stunning night skies, awe-inspiring waterfalls, and geothermal lagoons don’t inspire you to pay the country a visit, the nation’s tourism board has their fingers crossed that their cheeky (and frankly hilarious) advertisements might just change your mind. In their latest commercial, Iceland takes a shot at Mark Zuckerberg and his latest endeavor — the Metaverse — by calling out just how weird everything about both the man and the project are.

The advertisement kicks off by introducing a man named “Zack Mossbergsson” — a very obvious Zuckerberg parody complete with a turtleneck and one awkward haircut — who welcomes the viewer to the video’s “very natural setting” before saying he wants “to talk about a revolutionary approach on how to connect our world, without being super weird.” The ad then continues to poke fun at Zuckerberg’s more eccentric habits (like seriously overdoing it on the sunscreen), while talking about how great the “Icealandverse” is — namely because it’s real.

“Some said it’s not possible. Some said it’s out of reach. To them, we say, it’s already here. Seriously, look, it’s right here.”

Mossbergsson proceeds to then show off some of Iceland’s beautiful sites and attractions while accentuating the point that you can actually see and do them, unlike you can in the Metaverse.

While filled with lots of spoofs and jabs, the advertisement serves the very real purpose of attempting to get folks back to Iceland following the global pandemic. According to Gizmodo , prior to the pandemic tourism accounted for almost 9% of the nation’s GDP and was responsible for employing roughly 30,000 people. Like most countries, the nation’s tourism has taken an understandable hit since COVID-19, but now hopes that their waning number of cases, extremely high vaccination rate, and clever ads will encourage visitors to return.

Of course, Iceland isn’t alone in mocking Zuckerberg’s Metaverse. The concept is ripe for jokes and has been the bud of them for Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey , late night host Stephen Colbert , and literally everyone on Twitter . Looks like it might take more than a virtual Justin Beiber concert to help Zuckberg sell this idea.

Iceland tourism ad hilariously trolls Mark Zuckerberg and the 'metaverse'

Welcome to the Icelandverse, where everything and everyone is real.

Iceland is known for its dramatic volcanic and glacial landscape and its fascinating culture. (Did you know that Icelanders don't use family names for their last names? Now you do.) But who knew the Land of Fire and Ice also had a wickedly hilarious sense of humor?

In a tourism promotion ad, the public-private marketing organization Inspired by Iceland introduced the "Icelandverse," where everything and everyone is real, with no need for "silly VR headsets." It's a direct trolling of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's video introducing the metaverse, right down the narrator's haircut.

To get the full hilarity of the Iceland ad, watch the first couple of minutes of Zuckerberg's "Connect 2021: our vision for the metaverse" video, if you haven't seen it yet:

On the one hand, the metaverse does seem like the next logical step in technology, and there are probably some super cool ways we could utilize virtual internet reality. On the other hand, creepy Matrixy future much, Zuck? To his credit, he does poke fun at his reputation for seeming like an android just after the 5-minute mark, when he says, "I thought I was supposed to be the robot." (But he also didn't do a whole lot here to save himself from that reputation, either.)

We've all watched too many movies that prompt us to see a virtual-reality-filled future as overly detached and lacking in human connection. What the metaverse will really be like remains to be seen, but that perception—and the general consensus among many that Mark Zuckerberg is … well … odd—is what makes Inspired by Iceland's promo video so perfect.

Some said an open-world experience this immersive wasn\u2019t possible. But it\u2019s already here. And you don\u2019t even need silly VR headsets. \n\nIntroducing, Icelandverse\n#icelandversepic.twitter.com/b1cf1REKl9 — Inspired by Iceland (@Inspired by Iceland) 1636629804

Right out of the gate, Zuck gets zapped with a zinger: "Today I want to talk about a revolutionary approach on how to connect our world without being super weird." (If you didn't think the first few minutes of the metaverse video was super weird, please go to minute 18:50 and watch for a bit.) The hair, the outfit, the camera work, the "water that's wet," the "skies you can see with your eyeballs"—it's all just delightfully understated, wholesomely clever and perfectly effective.

Now I want to visit Iceland for the volcanoes, the hot springs, the waterfalls, the geysers and the Olympic-level trolling of one of the world's most powerful billionaires. (Oh yes, and the "really easy-going" people.)

By the way, If you're curious about what's on their faces in the hot spring, it's not sunscreen, but a mask. The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa is known for its blue silica and algae mask that supposedly makes your skin radiant. (Reason #2849 to head to Iceland.)

Well done, Inspired by Iceland. If we can't get to Iceland in real life, we'll definitely visit you in the metaverse.

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3 organic recipes that feed a family of 4 for under $7 a serving

O organics is the rare brand that provides high-quality food at affordable prices..

A woman cooking up a nice pot of pasta.

Over the past few years, rising supermarket prices have forced many families to make compromises on ingredient quality when shopping for meals. A recent study published by Supermarket News found that 41% of families with children were more likely to switch to lower-quality groceries to deal with inflation.

By comparison, 29% of people without children have switched to lower-quality groceries to cope with rising prices.

Despite the current rising costs of groceries, O Organics has enabled families to consistently enjoy high-quality, organic meals at affordable prices for nearly two decades. With a focus on great taste and health, O Organics offers an extensive range of options for budget-conscious consumers.

O Organics launched in 2005 with 150 USDA Certified Organic products but now offers over 1,500 items, from organic fresh fruits and vegetables to organic dairy and meats, organic cage-free certified eggs, organic snacks, organic baby food and more. This gives families the ability to make a broader range of recipes featuring organic ingredients than ever before.

“We believe every customer should have access to affordable, organic options that support healthy lifestyles and diverse shopping preferences,” shared Jennifer Saenz, EVP and Chief Merchandising Officer at Albertsons, one of many stores where you can find O Organics products. “Over the years, we have made organic foods more accessible by expanding O Organics to every aisle across our stores, making it possible for health and budget-conscious families to incorporate organic food into every meal.”

With some help from our friends at O Organics, Upworthy looked at the vast array of products available at our local store and created some tasty, affordable and healthy meals.

Here are 3 meals for a family of 4 that cost $7 and under, per serving. (Note: prices may vary by location and are calculated before sales tax.)

O Organic’s Tacos and Refried Beans ($6.41 Per Serving)

Few dishes can make a family rush to the dinner table quite like tacos. Here’s a healthy and affordable way to spice up your family’s Taco Tuesdays.

Prep time: 2 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Total time: 22 minutes

Ingredients :

1 lb of O Organics Grass Fed Ground Beef ($7.99)

1 packet O Organics Taco Seasoning ($2.29)

O Organics Mexican-Style Cheese Blend Cheese ($4.79)

O Organics Chunky Salsa ($3.99)

O Organics Taco Shells ($4.29)

1 can of O Organics Refried Beans ($2.29)

Instructions :

1. Cook the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until thoroughly browned; remove any excess grease.

2. Add 1 packet of taco seasoning to beef along with water [and cook as directed].

3. Add taco meat to the shell, top with cheese and salsa as desired.

4. Heat refried beans in a saucepan until cooked through, serve alongside tacos, top with cheese.

O Organics Hamburger Stew ($4.53 Per Serving)

Busy parents will love this recipe that allows them to prep in the morning and then serve a delicious, slow-cooked stew after work.

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 7 hours

Total time: 7 hours 15 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

1 ½ lbs O Organics Gold Potatoes ($4.49)

3 O Organics Carrots ($2.89)

1 tsp onion powder

I can O Organics Tomato Paste ($1.25)

2 cups water

1 yellow onion diced ($1.00)

1 clove garlic ($.50)

1/4 tsp pepper

2 tsp Italian seasoning or oregano

Instructions:

2. Transfer the cooked beef to a slow cooker with the potatoes, onions, carrots and garlic.

3. Mix the tomato paste, water, salt, pepper, onion powder and Italian seasoning in a separate bowl.

4. Drizzle the mixed sauce over the ingredients in the slow cooker and mix thoroughly.

5. Cover the slow cooker with its lid and set it on low for 7 to 8 hours, or until the potatoes are soft. Dish out into bowls and enjoy!

O Organics Ground Beef and Pasta Skillet ($4.32 Per Serving)

This one-pan dish is for all Italian lovers who are looking for a saucy, cheesy, and full-flavored comfort dish that takes less than 30 minutes to prepare.

Cook time: 25 minutes

Total time: 27 minutes

1 tbsp. olive oil

2 tsp dried basil

1 tsp garlic powder

1 can O Organics Diced Tomatoes ($2.00)

1 can O Organics Tomato Sauce ($2.29)

1 tbsp O Organics Tomato Paste ($1.25)

2 1/4 cups water

2 cups O Organics Rotini Pasta ($3.29)

1 cup O Organics Mozzarella cheese ($4.79)

1. Brown ground beef in a skillet, breaking it up as it cooks.

2. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder

3. Add tomato paste, sauce and diced tomatoes to the skillet. Stir in water and bring to a light boil.

4. Add pasta to the skillet, ensuring it is well coated. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

5. Remove the lid, sprinkle with cheese and allow it to cool.

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Dad discovers his child has pinworms and now the entire internet is rethinking parenting

It’s totally common and absolutely gross..

Dad discovers child has pinworms and it's freaking people out

If you're a parent you're likely in one of two categories: parents who have never heard of pinworms or parents who shuttered at the headline. Parents are not really given any sort of warning for all of the eyebrow raising situations that occur in childhood and one dad has found out that there was a lot left out of that non-existent parenting handbook.

Justin, a dad that runs the TikTok page drumbeatlane took to social media to tell the world of the current nightmare fuel parenting situation he was experiencing. He's also doing parents on social media a solid by giving them a heads up on the disturbing secret plaguing the parenting world–pinworms.

The viral video starts out with no trigger warning before he says though clenched teeth, "my son has worms in his anus." Yeah, you read that right. It's a thing. A slightly terrifying but totally normal thing.

"No one tells you about this stuff when you're thinking about being a parent but apparently it's like super normal for a child to just have worms in his booty hole," Justin says.

Dr. Cerissa Key , a pediatrician, chimed in on Justin's disturbing revelation and assured him and every parent watching that pinworms are a common thing that happens in young children. But she also dropped some info that other's including Justin may not have been ready to hear.

"Justin, sir. I hate to be the bearer of bad news. But if your son has worms in his booty hole, sir, politely and respectfully, you also have worms in your booty hole," Key reveals.

Key goes on to explain that kids are "disgusting" and don't wash their hands well so pinworms spread easily if a child at school or daycare has them. She advises that parents stock up on the chalky banana flavored medication that clears them up and to wash everything on hot while being sure to vacuum your floors well.

@drumbeatlane Parenting truly is just one surprise after another. But the biggest surprise to me every time something crazy happens is that it is usually super common, just no one talks about it. So I’m warning you. Your child might get worms in their anus. #justinkellough #dadsoftiktok #parentsoftiktok #momsoftiktok #parentingadvice #parenting @Justin

People in the comment section of both videos were horrified that this was an actual thing while others commiserated with the stressed dad.

"I have no kids and now I'm paranoid I have pinworms with no symptoms," one person writes.

"I've raised 4 kids and never had this happen. Tomorrow this will be my entry on my gratitude journal," a mom confesses.

"Do I have kids? No...Do I even work around kids? Also no...do I still have the urge to take this medicine just in case anyways? 100000%," someone says.

@therealdrkey #stitch with @Justin Allllll about pinworms! It your kid has them, YOU have them. 😩 #pinworms #pinworm #pediatrician #momlife #itchybottom #itchyvulva #pinwormssuck #parenting

Not everyone was stressed, some were thankful for the information. "Thank you! We haven't experienced pinworms yet, but super informative and helps to make parenting normalized," another commenter writes.

Key suggests that if your child has pinworms that the entire family should take a dose of the medication two weeks apart to make sure any left over newly hatched eggs are also killed. While you may not have been warned about pinworms, no one ever said parenting would be glamorous. It just seems people weren't prepared for how unglamorous it could get.

This article originally appeared on 12.23.23

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Now's your chance to help someone doing good in your community win $1000 towards the charity of their choice

Upworthy and p&g are back with the #actsofgood awards..

Three winners will be selected to receive $1000 donated to the charity of their choice.

Doing good is its own reward, but sometimes recognizing these acts of kindness helps bring even more good into the world. That’s why we’re excited to partner with P&G again on the #ActsOfGood Awards.

The #ActsOfGood Awards recognize individuals who actively support their communities. It could be a rockstar volunteer, an amazing community leader, or someone who shows up for others in special ways.

Do you know someone in your community doing #ActsOfGood? Nominate them between April 24 th -June 3 rd here . Three winners will receive $1,000 dedicated to the charity of their choice, plus their story will be highlighted on Upworthy’s social channels. And yes, it’s totally fine to nominate yourself!

We want to see the good work you’re doing and most of all, we want to help you make a difference.

While every good deed is meaningful, winners will be selected based on how well they reflect Upworthy and P&G’s commitment to do #ActsOfGood to help communities grow.

That means be on the lookout for individuals who:

Strengthen their community

Make a tangible and unique impact

Go above and beyond day-to-day work

The #ActsOfGood Awards are just one part of P&G’s larger mission to help communities around the world to grow. For generations, P&G has been a force for growth—making everyday products that people love and trust—while also being a force for good by giving back to the communities where we live, work, and serve consumers. This includes serving over 90,000 people affected by emergencies and disasters through the Tide Loads of Hope mobile laundry program and helping some of the millions of girls who miss school due to a lack of access to period products through the Always #EndPeriodPoverty initiative.

Visit upworthy.com/actsofgood and fill out the nomination form for a chance for you or someone you know to win. It takes less than ten minutes to help someone make an even bigger impact.

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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women

We mustn't hurt a man's feelings..

Men and the feels.

Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.

In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.

One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.

Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?

Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.

With permission from Sarah Cooper.

When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.

Sharing ideas.

When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."

Email requests.

Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.

Idea sharing.

If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.

When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.

Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.

Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.

Promotions.

Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.

Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.

Interruptions.

When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.

Collaboration.

When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.

Disagreements.

When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!

In conclusion...

Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.

About the Author: Sarah Cooper Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings . Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings , is out now.

The comedic book cover.

A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here .

This article was originally published on 3.25.19

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Woman explains what dry cleaning actually is and people are legitimately shocked

“they really take the buttons off of every shirt”.

Melissa Pateras explains how dry cleaning works.

Have you ever wondered what happens at the dry cleaners? Or are you like me, who just assumed the people at the dry cleaners were wizards and never questioned their magic? Turns out, dry cleaners aren't magic and there's actually a pretty interesting explanation of how they came to be and what they do.

Melissa Pateras is known on Tiktok for her laundry knowledge. Seriously, her ability to fold laundry is hypnotizing. This time, she created a video explaining what actually takes place at the dry cleaner and the internet is aghast.

Before Pateras explained what happens in the mysterious world behind the counter of a dry cleaner, she asked a few of her friends what they thought dry cleaning was. Their answers were...interesting to say the least.

One friend surmised, "You put it in a box, right...and then you let some wind, really fast wind, blow around on your clothes and it wipes off all the dirt." The friend, whose username is @unlearn16 , continued with her working hypothesis, saying that the clothes are then blasted with infrared heat to sterilize the garments. While that is certainly an interesting theory, that's not what happens.

Another friend guessed, "Dry cleaning is when they take all of your dirty clothes into this big dryer with a clean sheet that sticks all of the dirt to it from your dirty clothes." This friend was also incorrect, and Pateras finally explained why after her friends dug deep into their brains for their best guesses.

Turns out dry cleaning was invented by accident when Jean-Baptiste Jolly spilled a kerosene lamp on his tablecloth, which dried cleaner than it was previously, according to Pateras.

The laundry guru explained that while it was dangerous, the practice of cleaning things with kerosene continued until a less flammable method was discovered. But even the safer method is still fairly harsh, which is why dry cleaners take buttons off of clothing before running them through, she says.

This prompted one commenter to ask, "They really take the buttons off of every shirt?" to which Pateras replied that it only occurs if the buttons won't withstand the chemicals.

If you've ever been curious about what happens at the dry cleaner, watch the video below. She takes you through each step.

@melissadilkespateras What is dry cleaning #laundry #laundrytok #drycleaning #funfacts @Tracy Taylor @Unlearn16 @Ana Pac @Ashley Mathieu @Li

This article originally appeared on 5.10.23

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What will Earth look like if all its land ice melts? Here's your answer.

Climate change isn't pretty..

A map of the United States post land-ice melt.

Land ice: We got a lot of it.

Considering the two largest ice sheets on earth — the one on Antarctica and the one on Greenland — extend more than 6 million square miles combined ... yeah, we're talkin' a lot of ice.

But what if it was all just ... gone? Not like gone gone, but melted?

If all of earth's land ice melted, it would be nothing short of disastrous.

And that's putting it lightly.

This video by Business Insider Science (seen below) depicts exactly what our coastlines would look like if all the land ice melted. And spoiler alert: It isn't great.

Lots of European cities like, Brussels and Venice, would be basically underwater.

In Africa and the Middle East? Dakar, Accra, Jeddah — gone.

Millions of people in Asia, in cities like Mumbai, Beijing, and Tokyo, would be uprooted and have to move inland.

South America would say goodbye to cities like Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires.

And in the U.S., we'd watch places like Houston, San Francisco, and New York City — not to mention the entire state of Florida — slowly disappear into the sea.

All GIFs via Business Insider Science/YouTube .

Business Insider based these visuals off National Geographic's estimation that sea levels will rise 216 feet (!) if all of earth's land ice melted into our oceans.

There's even a tool where you can take a detailed look at how your community could be affected by rising seas, for better or worse.

Although ... looking at these maps, it's hard to imagine "for better" is a likely outcome for many of us.

Much of America's most populated regions would be severely affected by rising sea levels, as you'll notice exploring the map , created by Alex Tingle using data provided by NASA .

Take, for instance, the West Coast. (Goodbye, San Fran!)

Or the East Coast. (See ya, Philly!)

And the Gulf Coast. (RIP, Bourbon Street!)

I bring up the topic not just for funsies, of course, but because the maps above are real possibilities.

How? Climate change.

As we continue to burn fossil fuels for energy and emit carbon into our atmosphere, the planet gets warmer and warmer. And that, ladies and gentlemen, means melted ice.

A study published this past September by researchers in the U.S., U.K., and Germany found that if we don't change our ways, there's definitely enough fossil fuel resources available for us to completely melt the Antarctic ice sheet.

Basically, the self-inflicted disaster you see above is certainly within the realm of possibility.

"This would not happen overnight, but the mind-boggling point is that our actions today are changing the face of planet Earth as we know it and will continue to do so for tens of thousands of years to come," said lead author of the study Ricarda Winkelmann, of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.

If we want to stop this from happening," she says, "we need to keep coal, gas, and oil in the ground."

The good news? Most of our coastlines are still intact! And they can stay that way, too — if we act now.

World leaders are finally starting to treat climate change like the global crisis that it is — and you can help get the point across to them, too.

Check out Business Insider's video below:

This article originally appeared on 12.08.15

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A comic from The Oatmeal illustrates how we're missing the mark on happiness.

I do the things that are meaningful to me, even if they don't make me "happy.".

How to Be Perfectly Happy

Matthew Inman is the Eisner Award-winning author of The Oatmeal. He's published six books, including New York Times Best-Sellers such as " How to Tell if Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You " and " The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances ." He enjoys running marathons, writing comics, and eating cake.

You can read more of Matthew's comics here .

Comic by Matthew Inman/The Oatmeal . Used with permission.

More comics from The Oatmeal:When your house is burning down, you should brush your teeth.

My dog: the paradox

It's going to be okay.

More comics from The Oatmeal:

When your house is burning down, you should brush your teeth.

This article originally appeared on 12.02.16

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New iceland tourism ad roasts zuckerberg and the metaverse while showing off its waterfalls.

A new Iceland tourism ad has taken Mark Zuckerberg’s weird Metaverse announcement and transformed it into a hilarious appeal to enjoy Iceland ‘s natural beauty.

Created by Inspired by Iceland, a Zuckerberg look-alike named Zack Mossbergsson makes an awkwardly impassioned speech about the future of human connection: The Icelandverse. But unlike the virtual reality nightmare Zuckerberg’s trying to push down our collective throat, Icelandverse is actual reality “without silly-looking headsets.”

Instead of staying indoors and connecting with others via technology, Mossbergsson, Chief Visionary Officer of the Icelandverse, explains that the Icelandverse consists of interacting with other human beings by going outside and talking to people.

The spoof is near perfect, with an actor who looks as unnatural as the real Zuckerberg and uses similarly overcomplicated jargon.

“This groundbreaking service allows users to discover Iceland’s breath-taking surroundings and endless landscapes in real life, from stunning waterfalls, soothing hot baths, the Northern Lights… and moss,” the Inspired by Iceland website explains. “Users can explore and navigate their way through the many different layers of captivating reality just by visiting.”

But the new Iceland tourism ad does much more than just roast Zuckerberg and his freakish ideas for the future, it showcases the best of Iceland with great shots of the country’s hot springs, geysers, waterfalls, wildlife, and more.

Zuckerberg, for his part, commented on the video on Inspired by Iceland’s Facebook page. “Amazing. I need to make a trip to the Icelandverse soon. Glad you’re wearing sunscreen too,” Zuckerberg wrote.

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Iceland tourism ad brilliantly mocks Facebook’s metaverse

If you buy through a BGR link, we may earn an affiliate commission, helping support our expert product labs.

A few weeks ago, rumors started popping up about Mark Zuckerberg announcing a rebrand for Facebook (the company . The move would help the company distance itself from Facebook (the app) scandals and contain the damage . Also, Zuckerberg’s new focus is the metaverse, an AR/VR social ecosystem of the future. Facebook’s CEO promptly confirmed those rumors, announcing that the new company will be called Meta, just as some of the leaks indicated. Moreover, he offered a strange demo of the metaverse concept, a technology that Facebook has already invested $10 billion in. That demo was so unrealistic that it quickly became the subject of ridicule online. Now, an entire country is getting in on the fun. Meet Iceland’s Icelandverse, a brilliant ad campaign to promote tourism to the island.

The metaverse utopia

That’s not to say that we won’t be dabbling in metaverses going forward. And it’s not going to be Facebook’s metaverse out there. Other big tech giants will develop their own AR/VR-based metaverses that can be used for both work and fun. And these metaverses will likely work together to meet the needs of all customers.

Like many people, Iceland gets that. And the country used the metaverse to create an entire ad campaign that promotes tourism in the country.

The Icelandverse is very much real

Even if you’re not familiar with the metaverse, you’ll realize something’s strange from the minute the guy above starts talking. Zack Mossbergsson. The chief visionary officer (CVO) of the Icelandverse looks strikingly similar to Mark Zuckerberg. The name choice isn’t an accident either.

Hi and welcome to this very natural setting. Today I want to talk about a revolutionary approach on how to connect our world without being super weird. Some said it’s not possible. Some said it’s out of reach. To them we say it’s already here. Seriously look it’s right here. And what do we call this not so new chapter in human connectivity? The Icelandverse. Enhanced actual reality without silly looking headsets in our open world experience everything is real and has been for millions of years it’s completely immersive

Mossbergsson hits all the problems with the metaverse. The universe Zuckerberg wants isn’t real. To experience it, you need headsets that would let you immerse yourself in a digital world. Or overly digital elements over the actual reality.

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It’s all a big play for Iceland tourism

Iceland isn’t in the business of mocking Facebook because it wants to compete with any of its products. The purpose of this ad is to go viral and promote tourism. Those very real places that Mossbergsson shows off are a sight to behold. Like other countries, Iceland’s tourism industry took a significant hit in recent years because of the pandemic. What better way to deal with the crisis and remind the world that Iceland exists than mock one of the biggest tech giants on Earth?

Iceland’s tourism ad is available below in full, and it’s the kind of clip that should go viral. Facebook might help.

This article talks about:

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.

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Iceland uses humor in new ad to draw in tourists

Visit Oslo’s Ironic New Ad Goes Viral Asking: ‘Is it Even a City?’

Dawit Habtemariam , Skift

June 25th, 2024 at 9:53 AM EDT

Oslo doesn't take the typical smiling local approach in its new tourism ad. It instead uses dry Nordic humor to promote Oslo's unique appeal.

Dawit Habtemariam

“I wouldn’t come here.” That’s the opening of a new ad from from Visit Oslo that promotes the relative ease of Norway’s capital as a tourist destination.

“Everything is just so available.” A 31-year-old local shares that there are no lines at museums, no waits at restaurants.

He tells you everything that’s wrong with Oslo – while sharing exactly what makes it unique and beautiful. “The inspiration for the ad is Oslo’s position as an underdog as far as city break destinations go, both in Europe and in the Nordics,” said Anne-Signe Fagereng, director of marketing for Visit Oslo. 

It’s an appealing message, especially now. The world’s most popular tourist destinations are currently experiencing a boom, with some like Japan , Venice and Barcelona being struck with overtourism.

“The fact that it’s not as famous and crowded as some other capital cities is something we should start highlighting as a benefit,” said Fagereng.

Some of the Norwegian capital’s most famous attractions are Akershus Fortress, the Nobel Peace Center and the Norwegian Maritime Museum.

In 2021, the city opened a museum dedicated to artist Edvard Munch. In 2022, it opened a National Museum. The Museum of the Viking Age is coming in 2027.

“Oslo has been through an incredibly positive transformation over the last few decades, so it’s time our confidence in our capital catches up with reality. Our protagonist Halfdan is obviously not quite there though!” she said.

Oslo saw an upsurge in international arrivals this past quarter. International arrivals in the Norwegian capital are up 26% from 2019 levels, according to ForwardKeys. When Skift’s founder and CEO Rafat Ali shared the video on X, it received 1 million views on the first day thanks to viral reshares.

This type of creativity is rare in tourism ads these days, most of which blend into each other. This is different, a typical understated Norse sense of dry humor. From @VisitOSLO . Well done, more needed in this series. pic.twitter.com/Zc7RcsHdNi — Rafat Ali, Media Operator & Dad (@rafat) June 24, 2024

Zero Excited Oslo Local s

The ad incorporates the dry humor Nordic countries are known for. Last year, Visit Sweden launched a campaign ad reminding viewers to stop confusing it with Switzerland. In 2021, Visit Iceland launched an ad that parodied the Metaverse .

Most tourism ads feature locals talking about what they love about their destination with a big smile, which can sometimes be taken as disingenuous and insincere. In contrast, the actor in the ad talks about Oslo in a somber tone and doesn’t crack a smile.

“There are so many wonderful destinations in the world and a lot of pretty ads for them, but to stand out we really needed a different and more creative approach,” said Fagereng.

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Tags: destination markeing , norway , oslo , tourism

Iceland wants to switch up its tourism tax to protect nature — and fight overtourism

• Iceland wants tourists to flock to its picturesque ice caps and lunar-like lava landscapes — but not at the expense of its residents or natural environment.
• From Amsterdam to Venice, hot spots across the globe have brought in measures to try to crack down on the negative impacts of overtourism, while retaining what is often a hugely significant source of income.
• "If we see that places are being damaged by the number of people that visit let's say at Geysir where we have the hot springs, we need to take action," Iceland Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson told CNBC.

Iceland wants tourists to flock to its bubbling hot springs, picturesque ice caps and lunar-like lava landscapes — but not at the expense of its residents or natural environment.

The tiny Nordic country known for fire and ice is not alone. From Amsterdam to Venice , hot spots across the globe have brought in measures to try to crack down on the negative impacts of overtourism , while retaining what is often a hugely significant source of income.

"We are trying still to mold the taxation system for the tourism sector for the future," Iceland's Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson told CNBC via videoconference.

"We would like to lean more towards a system where the user pays. As I see it, we would want to go more toward accession fees to the magnets, as we call them, around the country," Benediktsson said.

"By doing that, we could control traffic. So, at the height of demand, we could have a higher tax where we could control by amending the fees both within the day or between months, or during parts of the year. But this is still in the making."

Iceland's government reinstated its so-called tourism tax at the start of the year, seeking to raise funds for sustainability programs and mitigate the environmental impact of mass tourism.

The levy, which was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic, applies a nominal fee of 600 Icelandic krona ($4.34) to hotel rooms, with varying costs also applied to campsites, mobile homes and cruise ships.

Benediktsson described his predecessor's reintroduction of the tourism tax as an "important decision" for the country. However, he says the government needs to go further to find the right balance.

As head of Iceland's pro-business, right-wing Independence Party, Benediktsson replaced Katrin Jakobsdóttir as prime minister in early April. He previously served as prime minister in 2017.

His second stint as the country's leader comes at a time when the country grapples with soaring interest rates, high inflation and a series of volcanic eruptions .

Late last month, a volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted for the fifth time since December , spewing lava that once again threatened the coastal town of Grindavik.

The seismic activity also forced the evacuation of one of the country's most visited sites, the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. The lagoon has since reopened to tourists after authorities said the eruption had stabilized.

Booming tourism revenues

Iceland's tourism sector has come roaring back from a dip during the coronavirus pandemic. The country — which has a population of around 383,000 — expects to receive 2.3 million visitors this year, nearly 2.4 million in 2025 and as many as 2.5 million in 2026.

The revenue generated by tourism has been increasingly important to Iceland's economy.

Indeed, the tourism sector accounted for 8.5% of its gross domestic product in 2023, according to Statistics Iceland , citing preliminary figures of the Tourism Satellite Accounts. That's up from 7.5% in 2022 and exceeds the 8.2% average recorded during the pre-Covid period of 2016 through to 2019.

Looking ahead, Benediktsson said the government was working with its own "sustainability balance check" to develop its tourism taxation system.

"We came up with a system under which we look at certain indicators: Is nature in balance in a certain spot? Is society happy with the development? Is that on a green, yellow or red light?" Benediktsson said.

"If we see that places are being damaged by the number of people that visit let's say at Geysir where we have the hot springs, we need to take action," he added.

"Those are the things we are trying to develop, and we are trying to follow the indicators and make sure that the industry grows in good acceptance with society but also with nature."

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Ad of the Day: Oslo’s red flags laid bare in anti-advertising style tourism spot

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By Amy Houston, Senior Reporter

June 25, 2024 | 2 min read

Listen to article 4 min

The dry humor used throughout the spot has caused a huge stir online, with some pinning it as the ‘best tourism ad they have ever seen’. It's our favorite work of the day.

If you’ve ever wanted to visit Oslo then maybe think twice because according to this ad, there are no waiting times for restaurants, it feels more like a village than a city, you can walk from one side to the other and the lines into museums are short. You just wouldn’t get that with New York or Paris.

Told through the eyes of a grumpy local Norwegian, the spot strategically lists all the great things about the capital but in an obtuse and deadpan style.

Explore frequently asked questions

Brilliantly, the ad appears to draw inspiration from Danish-Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier, whose celebrated Oslo Trilogy (including the Oscar-nominated The Worst Person in the World) features an Oslo very similar to the one in the ad. Trier's protagonists ponder themes such as human connection, love, memory, and identity in a similarly subtle way.

Overall, it’s a masterclass in anti-advertising. It leverages sophisticated humor, an unconventional narrative, and cultural references to deliver a message that’s entertaining, making it stand out in the crowded global tourism sector.

Title: Is it Even a City?

Agency: NewsLab AS

Media: Kampanje

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