Talking points: Google Glass, Bert and Ernie, CNN's Canada

Welcome to Talking Points, a daily roundup of digital miscellany

Hip-hop sign language

Meet the women who provides sign-language translation for hip-hop shows: Holly Maniatty first came to popular prominence when she was spotted signing to the Wu-Tang Clan's show at the Bonnaroo music festival in Tennessee. Slate tracked her down, and it turns out she works for Everyone's Invited, a production company that hires interpreters for events. What were the rappers most curious about during her performance? How she translates their often-colourful language. "Of course I'm gonna say it, you're saying it." she said. "Your words, not mine."

Bert and Ernie, still together

Last week, the New Yorker previewed the cover of their next issue: an image of Sesame Street's Ernie resting his head on Bert's shoulder as they watch a television screen of the U.S. Supreme Court judges, who we infer to be in the midst of striking down the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act. Gay-rights activists rejoiced; what a way to celebrate a landmark ruling! But detractors and online pontificators alike soon began the backlash. Slate called the cover "a terrible way to commemorate a major civil rights victory," while the Huffington Post pointed out that comments on conservative websites ran the gamut from "enough is enough!" to accusations that it was "promoting child endangerment." Aside from the tired conversation about the sexual preferences of Muppets (Bert and Ernie do not have sexual orientations, Sesame Street Workshop has previously clarified), the strong opinions about one magazine cover seem tied to pop culture's fondness for unadulterated nostalgia rather than a serious desire to further the same-sex marriage debate. The Atlantic Wire seems to have got it right in highlighting this conversation-deflating tweet from @pourmecoffee: "19 Cats Who Think Your Critical Essay On The Bert And Ernie Cover Takes Itself Too Seriously"

Happy Canada Day, CNN-style

To celebrate Canada's birthday, Atlanta-based CNN published a genuinely well-meaning – and well-read – reflection on our country by Karla Cripps, who describes herself as "a Canadian CNN digital producer based in Bangkok. Most people assume she is American until she says the word 'about.'" Not including the eye-roll-inducing reference to "aboot," she manages to mention Paul Anka; our penchant for apologies; something no one has heard of called the "Canuck crinkle"; and an anecdote in which she lambasts an American traveller for pretending to be from Toronto. (At least she didn't write that all Canadians know one another and live in igloos.) It seems Ms. Cripps specializes in travel journalism, and therefore can be excused for likely not visiting her home country in, like, ever.

Quote of the Day

"[Jennifer] Lopez obviously has the right to earn a living performing for the dictator of her choice and his circle of cronies."

Human Rights Foundation president Thor Halvorssen in a statement condemning the singer's appearance at a birthday party for Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.