Doctors at UCLA Health in Southern California documented a brain surgery on Thursday by using Instagram and Vine, showing yet another ground-breaking use of social media in the hospital setting.

We’ve already witnessed the world’s first live-tweeted open-heart surgery from Houston, as well as a live-tweet of a brain surgery. But what was noteworthy about Thursday’s live surgery from Los Angeles was the use of newbie social platform Vine, as the Los Angeles Times reported. Check out a sampling of the Vine video posts below.

The UCLA Health System (@UCLAHealth) used the hashtag, #UCLAORLive, to chronicle Thursday’s operation. This was the UCLA deep brain stimulation team’s 500th patient for which they implanted a brain pacemaker, according to the #UCLAORLive event page on Facebook. A brain pacemaker can help “cease Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor,” they said. Read more…

12:46 am  •  25 May 2013  •  1 note

Are the images in your Pinterest feed not quite manly enough for you? If you think the virtual pinboard site is a little too feminine, you’re not alone

In a recent Pew study of social media users, 25% of women said they used Pinterest, compared to a meager 5% of men.

Since Pinterest’s creation, a number of similar websites have popped up that offer pins in what they consider manlier topics. While the men who use these sites abandoned Pinterest because of what they saw as a lack of subjects they could relate to, a number of Pinterest’s power users are actually men.

If you look hard enough, you can find everything from power tools to men’s fashion on Pinterest. Some of the site’s most popular categories, like food and drink, also have broad appeal across genders. Read more…

12:46 am  •  25 May 2013  •  1 note

Chicken and waffles for breakfast, Seth Rogan and Katherine Heigl as a couple in Knocked Up, Snoop Lion and Miley Cyrus teaming up for a reggae song: some things shouldn’t work — yet, they totally do. For our vine challenge, we want you to create a vine that captures an unexpected pair.

Vine users are really pushing the creative envelope with their creations. Now, it’s your turn!

Think of two things that you wouldn’t normally associate, yet somehow work together — such as unusual animal friendships or Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett singing a duet. Your pair could be anything from household items to an unexpected love story. Read more…

4:40 pm  •  23 May 2013

Since its launch in 2006, Twitter has evolved from SMS-based status updates to one of the most popular social networks out there. The platform has well over 200 million active users, and odds are you’re one of them — but are you using it to its fullest potential? How can you get the most out of your Twitter experience?

We put together 14 tips and tricks for the social network you thought you knew — how to tailor your trends and suggestions, how to add a Pocket button for easy saving, and even how to gain more followers. You’ll be a Twitter pro before you know it. Read more…

4:40 pm  •  23 May 2013

Is Social Media Anxiety Disorder, known as SMAD, the newest affliction resulting from our love affair with Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites? Researchers have stopped short of actually classifying SMAD as a disorder, but it’s no doubt a problem.

Sure, you could quit using your social sites altogether — but then you’d be, well, bored and lonely. Science may someday shed more light on social media stress, but in the meantime, we’ve gathered the most common problems associated with popular social networks so that you know what to watch out for.

Creative Flop

Are you one of the thousands of women suffering from Mason Jar Envy, the creeping sense of self-loathing that comes from feeling you’re just not as crafty as the other women on Pinterest? The “Today” show recently surveyed 7,000 American mothers and found that 42% worry they’re not crafty or creative enough. Some stayed up all night pouring through Pinterest photos, unable to stop the negative comparisons. Read more…

8:56 am  •  22 May 2013  •  1 note

A Facebook group is helping the victims of the massive Oklahoma tornado, which killed 51 people and left many homeless, get their belongings back

On its trail of destruction, the tornado has blown debris from houses — including people’s personal belongings and important documents — many miles away.

The Facebook group asks members to post photos of any items or documents that were blown into their yard, so that they can be returned to the rightful owners

SEE ALSO: Terrifying Eyewitness Videos of Oklahoma Tornado Go Viral

“I’m just trying to help. I couldn’t imagine losing my kids’ pictures,” Leslie Hagelberg, the group’s founder, told The Huffington Post. Read more…

2:51 pm  •  21 May 2013  •  1 note

Nearly one million people are affected by natural disasters each year. In the U.S. alone, some 400 people die from disasters that cost the economy $17.6 billion. Helping respond to these cataclysmic events, social media is now a go-to tool for those effected by disasters

One in five Americans has used an emergency app. Of those Americans effected by natural disasters, 76% used social media to contact friends and family; 37% of used social media to help find shelter and supplies; and 24% used social media to let loved ones know they’re safe.

2:50 pm  •  21 May 2013  •  2 notes

You’ve had some fun with Vine, but now you want to get serious. Here are 12 tips to turn you into a Vine pro.

With Vine, you have six seconds to really impress a viewer. Thankfully, six seconds is more than enough time to dazzle someone, tell a story or share a laugh. These tips range from technical best practices to creative guidelines

1. Visualize the Final Product

Before you start your masterpiece, have a good idea what your finished Vine is going to look like. This might seem like obvious advice, but it will help make your shoot more efficient and give you an opportunity to really think about the structure of your creation. Some Viners sketch out their Vine frame-by-frame in a notebook, while others just have an idea in their head. Find what works for you. Read more…

2:50 pm  •  21 May 2013  •  3 notes

Pinterest just got an upgrade that could make it easier for users to gather information by navigating in its site. Instead of exclusively linking back to the original source, pins from certain brands will now display information such as recipes, movie reviews and price information.

Brand Partnerships Bring New Pin Format

Pinterest has partnered with several brands, including eBay, Target, ModCloth, Sony and Netflix, to introduce these more descriptive pins. The content of these pins will vary based on the brands who post them. For example, a pin from ModCloth could include the price of an item of clothing, while a pin from Netflix could provide more information about the cast of a TV series or the rating of a film Read more…

7:35 pm  •  20 May 2013  •  1 note

Procrastination is a serious business. In fact, procrastinators who are accomplished in their craft have a number of tools to help them — seven tools, to be exact, and counting.

In this Sunday Comic, Maria Scrivan shows us the cover of the procrastinator’s bible. Can you relate?

Comic written and illustrated by Maria Scrivan. Published with permission; all rights reserved. Read more…

7:34 pm  •  20 May 2013  •  1 note