1. 2014 in Emoji

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    The Year in Emoji

    We took some of 2014's biggest news stories and translated them into 2014's universal language

  2. us

    POLITICS

  3. us  Politics
    January 2014

    The story, in emoji:

    usherbsmokingno_entry_sign
    mount_fujimanwomanolder_manolder_womanperson_with_blond_hairpencilwhite_check_marksoonmount_fujiherbsmokingok_hand
    screamrage
    copragecrystal_ballgunhochomoneybagoncoming_police_carchart_with_upwards_trend
    ragecrystal_ballcarblue_carboomskullchart_with_upwards_trend
    ragecrystal_ballherbsmokingbabychart_with_upwards_trend
    ragecrystal_ballherbghostjack_o_lanternchocolate_barfearfulastonished
    snowmansnowflakesnowflakesnowflaketadanew
    money_with_wings chart_with_upwards_trend arrow_right school school
    herbghostjack_o_lanternchocolate_barwhite_check_mark

    The story, translated:

    Reveal translation!

    Colorado legalizes marijuana sales

    Despite a federal ban on marijuana, Colorado passed a ballot initiative to legalize the drug, and sales began January 1, 2014. There were dire predictions: that crime would increase, that high driving would lead to car accidents, that youth drug use would increase, and that marijuana-laced Halloween candy could sicken kids. The additional tax revenue enabled Colorado to build new schools. Reports of children who had accidentally eaten marijuana edibles did increase, but serious crime decreased in Denver, and fatal traffic accidents are at near historic lows.

  4. us  Politics
    June 2014

    The story, in emoji:

    white_circle house hammer arrow_right department_store moneybag pill no_entry_sign baby no_entry_sign
    department_store scream speech_balloon pill no_entry_sign baby no_good church
    pencil pencil pencil hammer hammer hammer thumbsup department_store
    department_store tada no_entry no_entry_sign baby
    white_circle house person_with_pouting_face thought_balloon exclamation twisted_rightwards_arrows no_entry_sign baby no_entry_sign baby no_entry_sign baby no_entry_sign baby no_entry_sign baby

    The story, translated:

    Reveal translation!

    Supreme Court sides with Hobby Lobby

    Under the Affordable Care Act, all private companies were required to pay for their employees' birth control. But some companies, led by the retailer Hobby Lobby, said this violated their religious beliefs — and filed a lawsuit against the government. In a ruling this June, the Supreme Court sided with Hobby Lobby against mandatory birth-control coverage. Millions of women will still have their birth control covered through the ACA, via Medicaid or the federal insurance exchange.

  5. us  Politics
    November 2014

    The story, in emoji:

    ballot_box_with_checkususususballot_box_with_check horsespeech_balloonrotating_lightelephantbombwomensscreamscreamscreamheavy_exclamation_mark
    womaninformation_desk_person
    ballot_box_with_checkolder_manolder_womanolder_manolder_womanolder_manolder_womanolder_manolder_womanolder_manolder_womanolder_man
    rainbowtwo_men_holding_handsringheavy_check_mark arrow_upchart_with_upwards_trenddollarheavy_check_mark honey_potherbheavy_check_mark
    elephantelephantelephantelephantelephantelephantelephantelephantheavy_check_mark elephantsmileysmileyhorsecrycrycry

    The story, translated:

    Reveal translation!

    2014 midterm elections

    In the 2014 midterm campaign, Democrats tried to rely on the Republican "war on women" to drive women to the polls. But the electorate in November was largely older and white — as it usually is for midterm elections. The election saw victories for gay marriage, marijuana legalization, minimum wage increases — and Republicans, who won eight Senate seats and will control both chambers of Congress in 2015.

  6. money_with_wings

    ECONOMICS

  7. money_with_wings  Economics
    February 2014

    The story, in emoji:

    us bank older_woman hash one

    The story, translated:

    Reveal translation!

    Janet Yellen becomes Fed chair

    Janet Yellen was confirmed as the first woman head of the Federal Reserve.

  8. money_with_wings  Economics
    April 2014

    The story, in emoji:

    man pencil closed_book
    closed_book arrow_forward tophat crown moneybag bank chart_with_upwards_trend person_frowning money_with_wings chart_with_downwards_trend
    closed_book arrow_forward earth_americas tophat crown yen dollar pound euro money_with_wings money_with_wings money_with_wings arrow_right jp kr cn us fr es it ru gb de
    boy woman man girl older_woman person_with_blond_hair money_with_wings closed_book closed_book closed_book closed_book closed_book closed_book closed_book closed_book closed_book closed_book closed_book closed_book
    closed_book no_entry_sign book

    The story, translated:

    Reveal translation!

    Capital in the 21st Century

    Thomas Piketty's Capital in the 21st Century became a best-seller despite being a long, dense economic tome. The book posits that inequality increases when r>g — that is, when the rate of return on capital exceeds the rate of economic growth. Piketty advocates a global effort to tax wealth to counter this inequality. Many people bought the book, but data on the book's Amazon Kindle readers suggested that many did not actually read it.

  9. money_with_wings  Economics
    October 2014

    The story, in emoji:

    us bank older_woman calendar money_with_wings heavy_dollar_sign heavy_dollar_sign heavy_dollar_sign heavy_dollar_sign heavy_dollar_sign heavy_dollar_sign heavy_dollar_sign heavy_dollar_sign
    arrow_right calendar calendar calendar calendar calendar calendar calendar calendar calendar calendar no_entry_sign money_with_wings

    The story, translated:

    Reveal translation!

    End of "QE3"

    As of January 2014, the Fed's tapering of the third round of quantitative easing — aka QE3 — had already begun, with the central bank spending $75 billion per month on asset purchases. As of October, it had gradually ramped down the purchases to zero, and the Fed announced the end of QE3.

  10. soccer

    SPORTS

  11. soccer  Sports
    July 2014

    The story, in emoji:

    earth_americastrophysoccerclapclapclap
    usopen_handsno_goodsweat_smileopen_handsno_goodsweat_smileopen_handsno_goodsweat_smileopen_handsok_womancry
    houserunningrunningbeginner100smiley100smiley100smileyarrow_rightdeok_womanok_womanok_womanok_womanok_womanok_womanok_womanbeginnerok_womanbeginnercrycrycry
    soccerrunningangrygrimacinggrimacinggrimacingitrunninginterrobanginterrobanginterrobangarrows_clockwiseno_entry_signcoolno_entry_signcool
    de100toptrophykissing_heartkissing_heartkissing_heartjoyjoy

    The story, translated:

    Reveal translation!

    2014 World Cup

    In summer 2014, much of the world was glued to the World Cup in Brazil. The US team lost its first game in the knockout round, despite the capable hands of goalie Tim Howard. Home team Brazil, who'd been waiting 64 years for a shot to win the Cup at home, was defeated 7-1(!) by eventual Cup winners Germany. And Luis Suarez of Uruguay bit a dude — hurting his team's chances in the process, as he got a hefty suspension past the end of the tournament. The tournament ended with a tearful German team accepting, and kissing, the Cup.

  12. iphone

    TECH

  13. iphone  Tech
    April 2014

    The story, in emoji:

    manwomanmicroscopecomputerclosed_lock_with_key
    manwomanmicroscopeunlockwarningrotating_lightrotating_lightrotating_light
    manwomanthought_balloonunlockarrow_rightbusts_in_silhouetteeyesdartcard_indexcard_indexcard_indexcredit_cardmoneybagmoneybagmoneybag
    manwomanpoint_rightunlockspeech_balloonheartsyringe
    computerofficescreamscreamscream
    computerofficerunningwrenchnut_and_boltminidisc
    computerlockmanwomansweat_smile

    The story, translated:

    Reveal translation!

    Heartbleed bug

    In April 2014, researchers discovered the Heartbleed bug — a major flaw in SSL, a technology that secures most online commerce. The flaw makes it possible for attackers anywhere in the world to steal private data, including passwords, from websites. Thousands of organizations rushed to update their software before hackers stole their information. In the wake of Heartbleed, major tech companies have increased their investment in online security — though more is probably needed.

  14. iphone  Tech
    August 2014

    The story, in emoji:

    movie_camera snowflake potable_water ok_woman point_right movie_camera snowflake potable_water ok_woman point_right
    movie_camera boy question thought_balloon bulb point_right movie_camera girl snowflake potable_water computer moneybag moneybag moneybag
    point_right movie_camera older_man snowflake potable_water point_right movie_camera man snowflake potable_water
    moneybagmoneybagmoneybagmoneybagmoneybagmoneybagmoneybagmoneybagmoneybagmoneybag
    thumbsdown newspaper thumbsup newspaper thumbsdown newspaper thumbsup
    moneybagmoneybagmoneybagmoneybagmoneybagmoneybagmoneybagmoneybagmoneybagmoneybag

    The story, translated:

    Reveal translation!

    Ice bucket challenge

    The ice bucket challenge started as a silly internet game where people dared each other to pour water on their heads. When Pete Frates, a 29-year-old living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) got nominated, he decided to attach ALS onto the existing hashtag #IceBucketChallenge. With the new fundraising purpose, the challenge went viral, inspiring people to dump freezing water over their heads in an effort to raise money and support ALS research. The public debated whether this was the most efficient way for people to give to charity, but it succeeded at meeting its goal: the #IceBucketChallenge raised over $100 million for ALS research.

  15. iphone  Tech
    September 2014

    The story, in emoji:

    womantriangular_rulerminidiscvideo_gamespace_invader
    manspeech_balloonwomankissing_heartlipstonguemanperson_with_blond_hairman_with_gua_pi_maoman_with_turbanspeech_balloondancer
    womanspeech_balloonvideo_gameboythumbsupvideo_gamebikinibikinibikinithumbsdown
    mantelescopewomancard_indexmanloudspeakercomputermanmanmanincoming_envelopeincoming_envelopeincoming_envelope
    womanenvelope_with_arrowpoint_leftpunchgunhochoskullghost
    womanscreamrunningdashhouse
    manspeech_balloonlibrainbox_trayvideo_gamenewspaper

    The story, translated:

    Reveal translation!

    #gamergate

    In August, a blog post written by the ex-boyfriend of a female game developer implied the developer had slept with journalists to get better reviews. The incident collided with existing feminist criticism of gamer culture, and spawned a high-profile controversy over gaming, sexism and journalism — centered around the hashtag #gamergate. #gamergate adherents doxxed several of their female critics (including celebrities like Felicia Day), and sent harassing emails and death threats — forcing at least one critic to flee her home in fear. But in any public discussion of what #gamergate was really about, or criticism of the tactics of some of its defenders, Gamergaters invariably replied: "It's about ethics in journalism."

  16. iphone  Tech
    September 2014

    The story, in emoji:

    apple man speech_balloon apple watch iphone six iphone six heavy_plus_sign
    apple watch pencil running muscle heartbeat watch heartbeat arrow_right watch
    iphone six iphone six heavy_plus_sign speech_balloon clap clap clap
    iphone six heavy_plus_sign no_entry_sign jeans
    iphone six heavy_plus_sign no_entry_sign no_good hand
    iphone unamused haircut

    The story, translated:

    Reveal translation!

    Apple Watch and iPhone 6

    Apple CEO Tim Cook announced several new, high-profile products: the Apple Watch, the iPhone 6, and the iPhone 6+. Among its many functions, the Apple Watch will track wearers' fitness and even enable them to send their heartbeats to each other. The iPhone 6 and 6+ were well received, but there were a few bugs: the huge 6+ didn't fit into people's pockets, and it also received criticism for being too large for women's smaller hands. Long-haired users also complained that the phones were catching on and pulling out their locks.

  17. earth_asia

    WORLD

  18. earth_asia  World
    December 2014

    The story, in emoji:

    usrageblack_medium_squarepalm_treeusspeech_balloonno_goodtwisted_rightwards_arrowsno_goodairplaneno_goodincoming_envelopedollar
    black_medium_squarepalm_treecouplecryuscoupleheavy_dollar_signheavy_dollar_signheavy_dollar_sign
    black_medium_squarepalm_treecoupleradiofaxuscouplecomputeriphone
    black_medium_squarepalm_treecouplerowboatrowboatswimmerus
    fast_forwardhourglass_flowing_sandhourglasscalendarcalendarcalendarfast_forward
    construction_workerchurchheavy_plus_signmaple_leafspeech_balloonusblack_medium_squarepalm_treetelephonespeech_balloonspeech_balloonspeech_balloonspeak_no_evil
    usblack_medium_squarepalm_treeblack_nibbookmark_tabs
    usblack_medium_squarepalm_treetwisted_rightwards_arrowslinklocktwisted_rightwards_arrowsclosed_lock_with_keyunlock
    elephantrageelephantspeech_balloonusbowjapanese_ogre
    familysmileyatmsmileytractorsmileytelephone_receivertophatsmiley

    The story, translated:

    Reveal translation!

    Thaw in US/Cuba relations

    For decades, the US refused to officially recognize communist Cuba, and imposed a strict trade embargo and travel restrictions. The result: misery and economic impoverishment for Cubans, many of whom defected to the US. After Canada and Pope Francis talked the US into negotiating with Cuba, the Obama administration announced in December that it was making a deal with the country to extend diplomatic recognition, trade prisoners, expand travel, and facilitate some kinds of economic activity. Republicans accused President Obama of caving to the Castro family, but the industries aided by the policy, and many Cuban families, were pleased.

  19. earth_asia  World
    December 2014

    The story, in emoji:

    tophatnecktieclappermovie_cameraimprocketbombskull
    busts_in_silhouettecomputerflashlighthochomovie_camerafile_folderfile_folderfile_folder
    busts_in_silhouettesweat_dropsopen_file_folderopen_file_folderopen_file_foldertophatnecktieincoming_envelopeincoming_envelopeincoming_envelope
    usspeech_balloonbusts_in_silhouettelinkimp
    tophatnecktiescreamspeech_balloonno_goodmovie_camerano_goodtvno_goodno_goodno_good
    usspeech_balloonthumbsdownthumbsdownthumbsdown
    tophatnecktiespeech_balloonarrow_right_hookok_handok_handmovie_cameradatechristmas_tree
    manspeech_balloonmovie_camerathumbsdownthumbsdownno_goodjoy

    The story, translated:

    Reveal translation!

    Sony gets hacked over The Interview

    "The Interview" — a Seth Rogen/James Franco movie about North Korea, including a scene where Korean leader Kim Jong Un is assassinated — was supposed to go into wide release in 2014. But then, mysterious hackers accessed and leaked, thousands of internal documents from Sony, the studio that produced the film — and the FBI linked North Korea to the hacks. Sony initially pulled the film due to fears of terrorism, but after criticism from President Obama agreed to show it in theatres on Christmas. (The critics were largely unimpressed.)

  20. clapper

    ENTERTAINMENT

  21. clapper  Entertainment
    May 2014

    The story, in emoji:

    dancer microphone
    information_desk_personpunchdollardollardollardollardollardollardollardollardollardollardollardollardollardollardollardollardollardoor outbox_tray
    microphone open_hands

    The story, translated:

    Reveal translation!

    Elevatorgate

    We could try to explain what happened in the elevator of New York's Standard Hotel after the Met Gala in May, when Solange Knowles apparently attacked her brother-in-law Jay Z. But we'll just leave it to Beyonce, the other party in the incident: "Of course, sometimes s--- goes down when there's a billion dollars on an elevator."

  22. clapper  Entertainment
    September 2014

    The story, in emoji:

    information_desk_personinformation_desk_personinformation_desk_personcameraiphone
    information_desk_person iphone computer arrow_forward camera
    man hammerwrench computer camera
    camera unlock open_file_folder e-maile-mail e-mail

    The story, translated:

    Reveal translation!

    Celebrity photo hack

    In August, hackers stole private photos off of the phones of female celebrities in various states of undress and leaked them on the internet. This invasion of private property was illegal and devastating. It also spurred a conversation about computer privacy and sexting.

  23. clapper  Entertainment
    November 2014

    The story, in emoji:

    princess musical_keyboard princess tada princess two_women_holding_handstwo_women_holding_handstwo_women_holding_hands cookie princess
    princess cd tada tada
    cd cd cd cd cd cd
    princess microphone :moneybag moneybag moneybag moneybag moneybag

    The story, translated:

    Reveal translation!

    Taylor Swift's "1989"

    Taylor Swift's most recent studio album was recorded during secret sessions, where she provided cookies to her fans and garnered hype. When the album was released in October, it sold more than 1 million copies in the first week. Taylor made a ton of money.

  24. clapper  Entertainment
    November 2014

    The story, in emoji:

    city_sunsethouse_with_garden
    manwomangirlboyolder_womanbabywoman
    notesfamilycoupletwo_men_holding_handstwo_women_holding_handsnotes
    dancersdancersdancers
    familytwo_men_holding_handstwo_men_holding_handsbabyperson_with_blond_hairperson_with_blond_hairolder_woman
    heart_eyes_catmusical_keyboard
    guardsmanguardsmanguardsmanguardsman
    sunglasseseyesflushed
    clapper
    manboybookmark_tabsbookmark_tabsbookmark_tabsbookmark_tabsbookmark_tabs
    boymanpoint_rightpoint_left
    princessear
    notesfamilycoupletwo_men_holding_handstwo_women_holding_handsnotes
    firedashdash
    notesfamilycoupletwo_men_holding_handstwo_women_holding_handsnotes
    couplekisscouple_with_heart
    couplekisscouplekiss
    heart_eyes_catrainbowrainbowrainbowrainbow
    notesfamilycoupletwo_men_holding_handstwo_women_holding_handsnotes
    coupletwo_men_holding_handstwo_women_holding_handscoupletwo_men_holding_handstwo_women_holding_handscoupletwo_men_holding_handstwo_men_holding_handscoupletwo_men_holding_handstwo_women_holding_handscoupletwo_men_holding_handstwo_men_holding_hands:
    two_men_holding_handstwo_women_holding_handscoupletwo_men_holding_handstwo_women_holding_handsspaghettispaghettipoultry_leg
    clapper
    rotating_lightoncoming_police_carpolice_car
    copgun
    princessbombhammer
    copcopspeech_balloon
    coptwo_men_holding_handstwo_men_holding_handstwo_men_holding_handsclapclap
    kimonoscream
    custard
    clapper
    uswalkingrunnerspace_invaderwalkingwalkingwalkingwalkingrunner
    japanese_ogrehocho
    clapper
    european_castlebirdeuropean_castlebirdeuropean_castlebirdeuropean_castlebirdeuropean_castlebirdracehorseracehorse
    dancerwine_glassjapanese_ogrehocho
    mancocktailjapanese_ogrehocho
    coupletennis
    dancersdancers
    raising_handrunnerrunnerrunnerrunnerjapanese_ogrehochorunnerrunnerrunnerrunnerjapanese_ogrehocho
    doorbulbon
    japanese_ogrehochoscreamscreamscreamscreambangbang
    dancerdancerdancerdancerdancerarrows_clockwise:arrows_clockwisearrows_clockwisehocho
    cophochobowhochoscreamscreamscream
    skullskullskulljapanese_ogresunglasseseyesflushed
    japanese_ogrehochoskullskullskullskullfork_and_knifecurryearnosemuscle
    japanese_ogrejapanese_ogrejapanese_ogreboomboomfirefirefirefirefirefirefirefire
    heart_eyes_catzapzapzapzapzaphotsprings
    heart_eyes_catskull
    clapper
    milky_waymilky_waystarsrocketrocketrocketrocket
    manmantwo_men_holding_handsboom
    womangunboom
    crocodilefirefirejapanese_ogrejapanese_ogrejapanese_ogrehochohochohocho
    tvhouse_with_garden
    clapper
    hospitalmaskmaskscream
    abcdbulbbulbnotesnotesnotes:
    screamscreamscreamtv
    mantwo_men_holding_handstwo_men_holding_handstwo_men_holding_handscop
    symbolssymbolssymbolsscorpiusophiuchusophiuchusaquariusinterrobanginterrobanginterrobang
    heart_eyes_catpaw_printsred_circleskullsee_no_evil
    couplecoupletwo_men_holding_handstwo_men_holding_handstwo_women_holding_handscoupletwo_men_holding_handstwo_men_holding_handstwo_women_holding_handscoupletwo_men_holding_handstwo_men_holding_handstwo_women_holding_handscouplecoupletwo_men_holding_handstwo_men_holding_handstwo_women_holding_handscoupletwo_men_holding_handstwo_men_holding_handstwo_women_holding_handscouplecoupletwo_men_holding_handstwo_men_holding_handstwo_women_holding_handscoupletwo_men_holding_handstwo_men_holding_handstwo_women_holding_handscoupledragon_facetwo_men_holding_handscoupletwo_women_holding_handscouplecamera
    japanese_ogre

    The story, translated:

    Reveal translation!

    "Too Many Cooks"

    For a brief time in November, the Internet was obsessed with "Too Many Cooks" — a video produced by Adult Swim, which was one part pastiche of 1980s TV show genres and one part just plain weird. The complexity of the 10-minute video led fans to rewatch it again and again for clues. This emoji recreation isn't quite shot-for-shot, but it's pretty darn close.