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    Just click play

    Thumbs up or thumbs down? CultureMap ranks YouTube's top 10 videos of 2011

    Fayza A. Elmostehi
    Dec 25, 2011 | 4:30 pm

    YouTube — the end-all be-all of what you watch on the Internet — has unleashed its definitive list of 2011's 10 most popular videos on hungry viewers worldwide.

    That high honor means you tweeted, you posted, and you clicked on the following 10 videos for everyone to see.

    But were they worthy of all the views they garnered? We'll give you our executive opinion on the supposed cream of the crop.

    10. Mama cat hugs baby kitten

    Analysis: A teeny baby kitten shakes and shivers while sleeping — caused by a nightmare of a world devoid of catnip? — and the mama cat pulls the kitten close in a warm, safe embrace.

    Who doesn't love when we can attribute human emotions to the fuzzy animals?

    Verdict: Thumbs up.

    9. Darth Vader kid starts dad's Volkswagen with "magic powers"

    Analysis: While we support the preservation of the wonderment of childhood (even when aided by modern technology), we're not sure that Volkswagen earned its spot on the list fairly. Big bucks clearly bought the viewership here, and it aired initially during advertising's prime time of year — the Super Bowl.

    But damn, it really is a clever video.

    Verdict: Thumbs up.

    8. Young girl covers Lady Gaga's "Born This Way"

    Analysis: If Gaga doesn't ask this mini-songstress to tour with her next go 'round, we're going to strike. This little lady has more talent in her hair barrette than most pop stars with record deals.

    Verdict: Thumbs up.

    7. "The Creep" with Nicki Minaj and John Waters

    Analysis: We hate videos that "disable embedding by request," by hey, we digress.

    Like car accidents and train wrecks, human beings have a natural tendency to gravitate toward the macabre. This latest gross-out attempt is no exception. We want to look away, but . . .

    Verdict: Thumbs up.

    6. Karmin covers Busta Rhymes, Chris Brown, and Lil' Wayne's "Look at Me Now"

    Analysis: Adorable rockabilly babe goes ghetto rap, sidled up next to her strong-armed supporting man — all with a smile. We'd watch this high energy duo animatedly bounce over a keyboard any day.

    Verdict: Thumbs up.

    5. Nyan Cat / Pop Tart Cat

    Analysis: Oh, come on. How mindless have our memes gotten? An 8-bit flying pop tart cat spewing rainbow gas in its wake, whining, "Nyanyanyanyanyanyanya!" for almost four minutes?

    Really? Come on, people!

    Verdict: Thumbs down.

    4. Twin babies talking to each other

    Analysis: At first, you're probably thinking, "How on earth could this one have garnered so many views?" But as you stay and watch awhile, you'll find yourself starting to wonder, "What are they saying? Are they really understanding each other?"

    And then you begin to marvel at the magnificent phenomenon that occurs after two percolating lives have shared one uterus for nine months.

    Verdict: Thumbs up.

    3. "Jack Sparrow" with Lonely Island and Michael Bolton

    Analysis: We swear we never thought we'd say this, but Michael Bolton is awesome.

    Verdict: Thumbs up.

    2. The Ultimate Dog Tease

    Analysis: Have you ever wanted to know exactly what your canine is thinking when he gives you those eager puppy dog eyes? Have you ever thought your dog understands you when he perks up his ears at the mention of bacon?

    This video cuts to the chase: He does.

    Verdict: Thumbs up.

    1. "Friday" with Rebecca Black

    Analysis: DEAR GOD WHY?

    Verdict: Thumbs down.

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    Summer swelter

    Texas charges up as No. 2 state most at risk for summer power outages

    John Egan
    Jun 11, 2025 | 5:00 pm
    Electric wire towers in the sunset
    Getty Images
    Texas led the list of states with the most hours of summertime power outages.

    Warning: Houston could be in for an especially uncomfortable summer. A new study puts Texas at No. 2 among the states most at risk for power outages this summer. Michigan tops the list.

    Solar energy company Wolf River Electric analyzed the number of large-scale outages that left more than 5,000 utility customers, including homes, stores and schools, without summertime electricity from 2019 to 2023. During that period, Texas experienced 7,164 summertime power outages.

    Despite Michigan being hit with more summertime outages, Texas led the list of states with the most hours of summertime power outages — an annual average of 35,440. That works out to 1,477 days.

    “This means power cuts in Texas tend to last longer, making summer especially tough for residents and businesses,” the study says.

    This news comes on the heels of another study that said Houston is among nine major U.S. cities that now experience at least 50 more days per year with above-normal summer temperatures than they did in 1970. The average summer temperature in Houston rose by 4.6 degrees from 1970 to 2024, according to Climate Central.

    The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates the electric grid serving 90 percent of the state, predicts its system will set a monthly record for peak demand this August — 85,759 megawatts. That would exceed the current record of 85,508 megawatts, dating back to August 2023.

    In 2025, natural gas will account for 37.7 percent of ERCOT’s summertime power-generating capacity, followed by wind (22.9 percent) and solar (19 percent), according to an ERCOT fact sheet.

    This year, ERCOT expects four months to surpass peak demand of 80,000 megawatts:

    • June 2025 — 82,243 megawatts
    • July 2025 — 84,103 megawatts
    • August 2025 — 85,759 megawatts
    • September 2025 — 80,773 megawatts

    One megawatt is enough power to serve about 250 residential customers amid peak demand, according to ERCOT. Using that figure, the projected peak of 85,759 megawatts in August would supply enough power to serve more than 21.4 million residential customers in Texas.

    Data centers, artificial intelligence, and population growth are driving up power demand in Texas, straining the ERCOT grid. In January, ERCOT laid out a nearly $33 billion plan to boost power transmission capabilities in its service area.

    ---

    This story originally appeared on our sister site, EnergyCapitalHTX.

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