Venrock Closes $450 Million Seventh Fund To Invest In Tech And Healthcare Startups

 Long-running venture capital firm Venrock just closed its seventh fund, bringing in $450 million in new capital. The firm, which has been around since the ’60s and counts the Rockefeller family as one of its big LPs, will use the new money to continue investing in early-stage tech and healthcare companies. Read More

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Fotopedia Will Shut Down Its Apps And Website On August 10

 About six years ago, former Apple Application Division CTO Jean-Marie Hullot founded Fotopedia, a startup that in its early days tried to bring the coffee table book experience to the iPad (and later iPhone). It focused on travel-related apps and...

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The NFL Gets Quantified Intelligence, Courtesy Of Shoulder Pad-Mounted Motion Trackers

 The NFL is making a move to integrate RFID-based activity-tracking tech to give fans, coaches and players more information about what exactly athletes go through during each game. The Zebra Technologies tracker systems will mount to player shoulder pads and communicate with receivers installed in 17 stadiums during the 2014 season. They will provide information about each player’s… Read More

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Twitter Acquires Password Security Startup Mitro, Open Sources Its Product

 Twitter is acquiring a small password security startup called Mitro for its New York office. Mitro built a way that multiple people can share or control passwords to a single account. The most obvious use case would have been in the enterprise where team members need to share a single password for an account. Twitter isn’t keeping the product and we hear that the team will likely be… Read More

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Oculus Rift DK2 Gets Torn Apart, Revealing Its Samsung Innards

 You may not be able to get your hands on the very-much-backordered second generation Oculus Rift, but you know who did? iFixit — the guys who tear apart pretty much every device they can get their hands on to get a better look at the hamster wheels inside.
So what’d they find? Read More

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Audi Tests Self-Driving Cars On Florida’s Roads

 Self-driving cars are making their way to Florida. Well, to “connected car” testbeds in Florida, that is. Automaker Audi was recently the first to try out a section of highway in Tampa, Florida which has been designated by the state as a testbed for automated driving. Here, Audi tested an initial version of “Piloted Driving” –  something it calls “Traffic… Read More

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Review: Canon IXUS 150

IntroductionAvailable in silver or red, with 8x optical zoom (plus up to 32x digital zoom), a 16 million pixel sensor and Canon's Digic 4+ processor, the Canon IXUS 150 is a pretty well equipped compact camera. The Canon IXUS 150 was added as part of a...

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Industry voice: Why you should use SharePoint as a video platform

Microsoft SharePoint is used by enterprises globally to facilitate collaboration by easily sharing, organising and discovering content and resources, and today's SharePoint managers are under pressure to deliver value. In the modern age, video is emerg...

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Meet the in-flight entertainment that's streamed straight to your tablet

Monarch Airlines has officially launches its MPlayer in-flight entertainment system, allowing passengers to consume movies, TV shows, newspapers and magazines from the comfort of their own mobile devices.You'll need to download the specific MPlayer app onto your iOS or Android (including the Kindle Fire range) smartphone or tablet before boarding - as MPlayer doesn't provide an internet connection - which you can then use to control media playback.Monarch has also installed tablet holders onto the rear of its now non-reclining seats, allowing you to holster your tablet, keeping you hands free for drinks and some duty-free shopping.Come stream with meThere is, as there always is with low-cost airlines, a charge for the service, but at £3.99 per flight that's not too bad a deal if it means keeping the kids quiet for a few hours.If you don't want to part with any cash, Monarch is offering a smattering of content for free including two in-flight magazines - Passport and duty-free magazine Love to Shop - destination restaurant reviews from TripAdvisor and destination bar reviews provided by BarChick.The MPlayer service is currently available on six Monarch airplanes and it will continue to roll out the system to more planes this summer and into next year.Just don't forget to charge your devices before getting to the airport

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For The First Time Ever, The House Is Suing The President Of The United States

President Obama will become the first president to be sued by a chamber of Congress, as the Republican-led House of Representatives has authorized Speaker John Boehner to pursue a lawsuit against Obama for inadequately enforcing the Affordable Care Act. According to the Los Angeles Times, the House voted 225-201 in favor of Boehner filing a […]
For The First Time Ever, The House Is Suing The President Of The United States

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Why Millennials Can’t Possibly Fit Into The Two-Party System Gen-X Set Up For Them

A couple weeks ago, Reason published its latest poll numbers on Millennial politics, and the data contains some interesting numbers that are generally supported by recent Pew and Gallup polls.   Millennials are considered socially liberal, yet fiscally conservative. These findings aren’t anything new; in fact, they have only solidified over the past few years, as any […]
Why Millennials Can’t Possibly Fit Into The Two-Party System Gen-X Set Up For Them

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This Video Explains How Politicians Skew District Lines And Rig Votes

It’s no secret that sometimes, it’s hard to trust politicians. But this video, which discusses the concept of gerrymandering, shines a spotlight on that truth even more. Gerrymandering is when politicians manipulate electoral boundaries to favor a certain political party. There are 435 congressional districts in the US that need to be divided up — […]
This Video Explains How Politicians Skew District Lines And Rig Votes

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Meet Auntie Fee, The YouTube Cooking Sensation Who Needs Her Own TV Show

Emeril Lagasse. Julia Child. Bobby Flay. Guy Fieri’s Hair. Over the years, we’ve seen our fair share of cooking personalities capture the hearts and stomachs of food enthusiasts around the world. While there is no shortage of chefs in the world, only a select few have been able to establish a special connection with a […]
Meet Auntie Fee, The YouTube Cooking Sensation Who Needs Her Own TV Show

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If Sonic The Hedgehog Was Scientifically Accurate He Would Be A Disgusting Poop Machine

Turns out actual hedgehogs are revolting.































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Keep An Open Mind: 4 Ways Contradicting Yourself Can Be A Virtue For 20-Somethings

In our lives, we’d like to stand for something. It’s not enough to merely exist. We have to make sure that while we’re here, we live a life dedicated to our values and beliefs. Unfortunately, this is not so easy to do, especially for our generation. Years ago, before technology had connected most of the […]
Keep An Open Mind: 4 Ways Contradicting Yourself Can Be A Virtue For 20-Somethings

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Shadowy Optical Illusion Mural by Strøk in Italy

Anne Esser Anne Esser Anne Esser Anne Esser Anne Esser As part of the Memorie Urbane street art festival in Italy, Norweigan stencil artist Anders Gjennestad (aka Strøk) painted this shadowy mural on the side of an old school. This is just one of numerous pieces created for the festival including many Colossal favorites like […]

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The Dallas Cowboys Have The Most Bizarre Tight End Drill Ever Seen (Video)

Realistically speaking, the Dallas Cowboys are going to completely blow again next season. That’s been a given for the past decade now! Signing Tony Romo to a monster contract extension pretty much stopped things before they could even get started, and judging by some of the training philosophies they’ve implemented at camp, nobody knows what […]
The Dallas Cowboys Have The Most Bizarre Tight End Drill Ever Seen (Video)

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TBT: When Going Across The Middle In The NFL Was Suicide (Video)

Being a wide receiver in the National Football League during the 90s required only one thing: balls of steel. Sure, strong hands, precise route running and a big physical body helped, but when it came to crossing over the middle, you could expect a big collision every single time. Rule changes have since protected offensive players […]
TBT: When Going Across The Middle In The NFL Was Suicide (Video)

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Target Hires New CEO From PepsiCo As It Works To Recover From Biggest U.S. Retail Hack

Brian Cornell’s background is in stark contrast to his “homegrown” predecessor.
















AP Photo/Steven Senne, File











Target hired a new chief executive officer from PepsiCo, three months after its former CEO resigned in the wake of the retailer's massive data breach in December.

Brian Cornell, who will also be Target's chairman, led PepsiCo's Americas Foods division, the company's biggest, since 2012, according to a statement today. Before that, he was the president and CEO of Sam's Club — giving him relevant discount-store experience — and CEO of Michaels Stores.

Notably, Cornell arrives at Target from outside the company. Gregg Steinhafel, the former CEO for about six years, spent a total of 35 years at Target — and that might have been a problem.

Target's chief marketing officer penned an unusually open letter on LinkedIn in May, acknowledging the company had "hit a rough patch" and that the five months following the data breach were difficult. He wrote in response to an anonymous employee rant posted to Gawker, in which the employee claimed the "homegrown" executives at Target had " no concept of how to run a 21st century business."

"Target HQ is in bad shape and in desperate need of help, direction and vision, starting from the top down," the employee wrote on Gawker at the time.

"As we seek to aggressively move Target forward and establish the company as a top omnichannel retailer, we focused on identifying an extraordinary leader who could bring vision, focus and a wealth of experience to Target's transformation," Roxanne Austin, Target's interim non-executive board chair said in today's statement.

Target is still working to recover from its data breach in mid-December, which has rocked both sales and profits.

















Target's new CEO:






Target / Via investors.target.com

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Borrowing Advantage Of Big Banks Declines Along With Investor Belief In Government Bailout Support

A new study by the Government Accountability Office said that large banks were able to borrow money for less during the financial crisis because investors thought the government would support them, but that the funding advantage “may have declined or reversed.”













Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, who requested the study.


Matt Sullivan / Reuters / Reuters











A long awaited study by the Government Accountability Office has concluded that the ability of the largest banks to borrow money for less because investors think the government will bail them out if they run into trouble "may have declined or reversed."

The much anticipated report is part of a long debate swaying in policy and academic circles over whether recent regulatory reforms have been successful in eliminating the expectation that the government will stand behind the largest banks in the case of their failure. Many analysts have pointed to large banks being able to borrow for less before and during the financial crisis as evidence that investors expected them to be bailed out, which would then constitute an implicit taxpayer subsidy reserved for the largest banks.

Those expectations were ratified in 2008 and 2009, when the Treasury and Federal Reserve moved heaven and earth to rescue the largest banks with hundreds of billions worth of loans, equity investments, and explicit guarantees of some of their debt.

Regulators have "made progress" in writing the rules mandated by the 2010 Dodd-Frank bill, which attempted to set up a system where a large bank could be wound down without threatening the wider economy or requiring taxpayer support, Lawrance Evans, a director at the GAO, plans to say in testimony before the Senate Banking Committee later today. He said that market participants the GAO spoke to "believed that recent regulatory reforms have reduced but not eliminated the likelihood the federal government would prevent the failure of one of the largest bank holding companies."

"The GAO report confirms what we have seen in many recent studies: any cost of funding differential large banks once had has been dramatically reduced if not eliminated," the Financial Services Forum, a bank trade group, said in a statement. "These differences have nothing to do with the expectation of a bailout, but are due to the fact that investors place great value in stability, diversification and liquidity. It is also critical to consider this issue in the context of the many new regulatory costs borne by the largest banks, including much higher capital and liquidity requirements."

Last year, a Goldman Sachs study concluded that the six largest U.S. banks had a "slight funding advantage" from 1999 until 2007, and that that advantage got significantly larger during the financial crisis. Goldman, however, said that the largest banks had a only a small disadvantage in funding costs from 2011 through early 2013.

The GAO analysis was consistent with that view. Evans said that the GAO's study "suggests that large bank holding companies had lower funding costs than smaller ones during the financial crisis but provides mixed evidence of such advantages in recent years" and that "most models suggest that such advantages may have declined or reversed." The GAO looked at the difference in the yield between bonds issued by banks and equivalently-timed bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury, which are considered to be risk free. The difference between what a Treasury yields and what bank debt yields can be seen as the market's perception of the bank's relative riskiness.

The GAO looked at the difference in debt yields between banks with $1 trillion in assets, which would cover Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo, and banks with $10 billion in assets. In 2013, the GAO said that 18 models it used predicted that the larger banks had statistically significant higher funding costs and four models found they had significantly significant lower funding costs. From 2006 to 2009, however, zero models the GAO uses estimated that smaller banks had a funding advantage.

"In times of crisis, the advantage is even bigger to the big banks, and that's particularly alarming," Sherrod Brown, the Ohio Democratic senator who requested the study, told Bloomberg TV.

Other analysis have found that banks' funding advantage has persisted due to the perception that they would be bailed out.

The editors of Bloomberg View, the opinion section of Bloomberg News, said that the implicit subsidy to the ten largest banks amounts to $83 billion a year, and $64 billion flows to the top five largest banks. The editors pointed to research showing that large banks had a 0.8 percentage point funding advantage on all of their debt.

An International Monetary Fund report earlier this year said that the implicit subsidy for the six largest U.S. banks was between $15 billion and $70 billion a year in 2011 and 2012, but that the funding cost advantage had been declining in the U.S. The IMF also said that the subsidy peaked during the financial crisis.

The ratings agency Moody's, which is charged with giving a credit rating to banks' debt, said in a report last year that changes in how large banks can be wound down in the the Dodd-Frank financial regulatory reform bill lead it to lower the rating of some debt of the eight largest banks.

The agency removed the "uplift" — an extra boost in the debt of the holding company for the eight banks — but that the ratings for the debt for the banking units would stay elevated because they assumed it would be supported by the bank holding company.

The study is thanks to populist Ohio Democratic senator Sherrod Brown, who requested it, along with Louisiana Republican David Vitter. Brown and Vitter are also the co-authors of a bill introduced last year that would greatly increase the capital requirements for banks with over $500 billion in assets.

Under the bill, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley would have had to increase their capital levels to 15%, well above what international and American regulators mandate. The banks would also have to calculate their capital ratios without adjusting for the riskiness of their assets as current rules allow them to do. Risk weighting, as the adjustment is called, allows banks to have less capital against some of their assets, like debt issued by the U.S. government, while they need more against others, like mortgages or corporate debt.

A bank's capital is money that it uses that isn't borrowed, and the more borrowing a bank does, the more earnings it can generate for its shareholders (and the more at risk it is for going under thanks to a loss).

A big hike in capital requirements — which have already gone up considerably since the financial crisis — would dent banks profitability as they would be less able to juice up their profits with borrowed money. At the same time, however, such a move could also make them more stable. The study was part of Brown and Vitter's strategy to show that a portion of the profits banks generate now is thanks to an implicit subsidy from the public. But that claim is now in doubt.

Even if banks still receive an implicit subsidy, or would in a crisis, the largest banks have also born the brunt of regulations specifically targeted at them in order to make them more stable. In April, bank regulators in the U.S. proposed a rule requiring stiffer restrictions on bank borrowing for banks with more than $700 billion in assets.

The largest and most complex banks also have to comply with more rules that cover the diversity of their activity and some, like JPMorgan Chase, have hired thousands of employees to deal with new regulations. JPMorgan's chief financial officer said in an investor presentation in February that the bank would spend an extra $2 billion in 2014 on compliance and controls.




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This Is How To Sneak Into A Private Pool To Maximize Summer Fun (Video)

While summer might technically be on the downswing, we still have at least a month to capitalize on all the beautiful things that come along with it: nice weather, a noticeably relaxed dress code and pool parties. Unfortunately for regular people, taking advantage of that last category requires you to know someone who has a […]
This Is How To Sneak Into A Private Pool To Maximize Summer Fun (Video)

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This Cat Using A Water Cooler The Right Way Is Strangely Worrisome (Video)

I’m not the kind of person to buy into conspiracies like The Illuminati or New World Order, but I do firmly believe that cats are slowly learning to become self-sufficient until they can finally rise up against humanity in an epic battle of the species (I like to things dogs will side with humans and […]
This Cat Using A Water Cooler The Right Way Is Strangely Worrisome (Video)

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ABC News’ Sara Just Named Executive Producer Of ‘PBS NewsHour’

Sara Just, a 25-year ABC News veteran, is leaving the network to become executive producer of PBS NewsHour and SVP at WETA, the public television station in Washington, DC. Just, who has been ABC News’ Deputy Washington Bureau Chief since April, will join News Hour on September 2, succeeding Linda Winslow, who is retiring. During her tenure at ABC News, Just also served as Senior Washington Producer for Good Morning America and spent 17 years as a producer at Nightline, working with longtime anchor Ted Koppel.
Just’s hire comes on the heels of WETA taking over NewsHour from MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, the company named after former anchors Robert MacNeil and Jim Lehrer, on July 1.

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Hot TV Teaser: Netflix’s ‘BoJack Horseman’

Here is a look at Netflix‘s next original series, the irreverent (and a little trippy) adult animated comedy BoJack Horseman, which premieres August 22. The PSA-style promo introduces BoJack (Will Arnett), the failed legendary star of the favorite ’90s family sitcom Horsin’ Around, who has been trying to find his way through a muddle of self-loathing, whisky and failed relationships. Now, in the presence of his human sidekick Todd (Aaron Paul) and his feline agent and ex-paramour Princess Carolyn (Amy Sedaris), BoJack is primed for his comeback. The cast of the 12-episode series, which marks Arnett’s return to Netflix following last year’s installment of Arrested Development, also includes Alison Brie, Paul F. Tompkins and Patton Oswalt. Raphael Bob-Waksberg created the comedy, from Michael Eisner’s The Tornante Co., and executive produces with Arnett, Paul, Steven A. Cohen and Noel Bright. BoJack was designed by graphic artist Lisa Hanawalt and animated by ShadowMachine.
Click here to view the embedded video.

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Mia Farrow, Anjelica Huston, Martin Sheen And Brian Dennehy Will Post ‘Love Letters’ On Broadway

Playwright A.R. Gurney’s romatic two-hander will return to Broadway for a star-fueled revival beginning September 13 at the Nederlander Theater. Among the pairings for the run are Brian Dennehy and Mia Farrow, launching the show, followed by Alan Alda, Candice Bergen, Carol Burnett, Anjelica Huston, Stacy Keach, Diana Rigg and Martin Sheen. Diana Rigg is appearing with the support of Actors’ Equity Association. The director is two-time Tony winner Gregory Mosher.  Producers are Nelle Nugent, Barbara Broccoli, Fredrick Zollo, Olympus Theatricals, Kenneth Teaton and Colleen Camp.

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China To Limit ‘Cultural Pollution’ With Cap On Imported TV Shows?

In 2012, China relaxed its feature film import quota, upping the total number of foreign movies eligible for a 25% revenue share slot to 34. In the meantime, online has been a pretty freewheeling space where American culture has been given a large window to be exploited in the country. In the past few months, however, there has been an increase in cracking down on online content. And today, Chinese media says a plan may be afoot to impose a quota system on the licensing of overseas programs by video websites. The idea being mulled over by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television would have implications for video giants like Sohu, Youku Tudou and Tencent who collectively stream about 400 American and British TV shows — with audiences rabid for the likes of Sherlock, The Vampire Diaries and others.
I’m cautioned that there has been talk for a long time about applying stricter censorship enforcement to online content, and China specialist Rob Cain tells me, “It would be no surprise to see it enacted.” He says the Communist party “wants to set the rules of morality and proper conduct in China — essentially to keep people behaving in ‘appropriate’ ways that support, or at least don’t threaten, the (party)’s rule or legitimacy — and foreign programs are generally perceived as a threat, often referred ... Read More »

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Hot Trailer: ‘SpongeBob: Sponge Out Of Water’

In a world … that’s not underwater, the denizens of Bikini Bottom must recover a mysterious book that — oh, forget about the plot. Just go get your kids and behold the first trailer for SpongeBob: Sponge Out Of Water, the second big-screen romp for the Nickelodeon stalwart and his briny chums. The 3D pic from SpongeBob SquarePants vet and rookie feature director Paul Tibbitt follows the CGI adventures of our porous hero along with Patrick, Squidward, Sandy, Mr. Krabs and Plankton, as they venture onto terra firma for the first time. Look for bikini babes and Slash, listen for “Welcome To The Jungle” and Antonio Banderas as Alameda Jack. Paramount opens it February 6:


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R.I.P. Movie Makeup Icon Dick Smith

Legendary Hollywood makeup artist Dick Smith has died at the age of 92. His protege and fellow makeup genius Rick Baker tweeted the sad news this morning.
“The master is gone. My friend and mentor Dick Smith is no longer with us. The world will not be the same.”
Smith’s iconic transformations appeared in films such as The Godfather, Taxi Driver and The Exorcist, in which he created the device that allowed Linda Blair to projectile vomit. He also transformed the look of F. Murray Abraham in Amadeus, as he aged in the film from his 40s to his 80s. In 2011, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences presented Smith with an honorary Oscar (Smith’s second, his first was for Amadeus) at the Governors Awards. It was presented by Baker who called Smith “my idol, mentor, and friend for over 40 years, the greatest makeup artist of all time”. On accepting the award, an emotional, tearful Smith said ”When I watch the wonderful films they just showed, I thought, ‘What a wonderful career this fellow has had.’ I have loved being a makeup artist. To have had so much kindness is just too much.”
Earlier in his career, he worked on the vampire soap opera Dark Shadows, a project he credited with being valuable preparation for the 1970 film Little Big Man. In Dark Shadows, vampire Barnabas Collins ... Read More »

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Independents of Speed, European: Horacio Pagani

Age: 58 Hometown: Casilda, Argentina Company: Pagani Automobili SpA; 95 employees in 63,000 square feet of manufacturing space in Modena, Italy. It has produced 191 cars over its 16 years of operation. Past projects: Zonda C12, a 555-hp carbon-fiber wedge using a 6.0-liter AMG-built Mercedes-Benz V-12, and subsequent iterations, including the Zonda S, Zonda R, […]

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From the C/D Archives: 1994 Mazda Miata 1.8L Tested

For 1994, Mazda calls its perky Miata “all-new beneath the skin.” We beg to differ. Like the federal government, the new Miata has been subjected to subtle improvements. Unlike Washington, the Miata faces change with an advantage. The public likes the Miata. READ MORE ››

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Jude Law’s Dancing Will Make You Actually Want To Watch A 6-Minute Commercial

Typically, most people wouldn’t watch a six-minute commercial for booze, but this one is different. This is really a short film that just happens to feature Johnnie Walker Blue Label. The film is called “The Gentleman’s Wager,” and it features Jude Law dancing. Law plays a well-to-do playboy who puts on an elaborate dance performance […]
Jude Law’s Dancing Will Make You Actually Want To Watch A 6-Minute Commercial

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Israel Calls Up 16,000 Troops And Vows To Destroy Hamas With Or Without Cease-Fire

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced earlier today that Hamas’ underground tunnels will be destroyed regardless of whether a cease-fire is reached and that 16,000 more Israeli troops have been called up to strengthen Operation Protective Edge. According to ABC News, Netanyahu said, We have neutralized dozens of terror tunnels and we are committed to complete […]
Israel Calls Up 16,000 Troops And Vows To Destroy Hamas With Or Without Cease-Fire

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This “Game Of Thrones” Actress Had The Most Perfect Reaction To Being Replaced

Aimee Richardson may no longer be Myrcella Baratheon, but she wins this game.









Remember Myrcella Baratheon, the only daughter of Cersei Lannister who got shipped off to Dorne by her uncle Tyrion?






HBO














Well, with a bunch of Dorne characters set to appear on next season of Game of Thrones, Myrcella will also be back. But the actress who played her, Aimee Richardson, won't.






HBO














The role has been recast and Myrcella will now be played by Nell Tiger Free.






imdb.com














Aimee, who has a history of being awesome on social media, reacted in the best way possible: with humour.




"Well, this is embarrassing."


vine.co




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Chris Pratt Does A Stunningly Good Impression Of Everyone On "The Only Way Is Essex"

“Is like, I honestly Michael I was like, like what happened, the last time he was cheated with me the last time when I was in Ibiza because seriously like…”









In a Brews with CBS This Morning interview, Chris Pratt was asked if he could do any good impressions. Yes yes YES he can.

View Video ›




facebook.com














Oh my god.







vine.co














If you didn't understand any of it, here's a translation.






Brews with CBS This Morning





















Brews with CBS This Morning




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Orlando Bloom Tried To Punch Justin Bieber And The Internet Has Reacted Brilliantly

Tumblr has spoken.






It's unclear what the argument was over, and neither party has officially commented on the incident.

















But it wasn't long before everyone began sharing their opinions - with most people seeming to be #TeamBloom.






twitter.com














There was a lot of talk about Orlando deserving a knighthood. Or at the very least, a Blue Peter badge.






twitter.com














And there were a few Game of Thrones references.






twitter.com




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A Quick Reminder That Miranda Kerr Always Looks Devastatingly Perfect

We’ve reached human perfection here, people.









Here's Miranda Kerr looking devastatingly perfect. In case you weren't aware, she's like this ALL. THE. TIME.






Lisa Maree Williams / Getty














Here she is close up, so you can admire her eyebrows, eyes, eyelashes, nose, cheekbones, dimples, lips, teeth and chin. It's a lot to take in. Have a moment to marvel.






Mark Metcalfe / Getty














Just look how perfect she looks here, with her hair perfectly falling to the side and her hand perfectly on her perfect hip.






Lisa Maree Williams / Getty














This woman knows.






Lisa Maree Williams / Getty




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The 23 Greatest Hair Flips Of All Time, Ranked

Flip your back and forth.









The Snooki "I'm Too Hungover For This" Hair Flip






E! / Via nessasery.tumblr.com














The Justin Bieber "Little Big Man" Hair Flip.






weheartit.com














The Cher Horowitz "You're Such A Baldwin" Hair Flip.






Parmount / lowereastsidetours.org














The Conan O'Brien "Fills You With Dread" Hair Flip.






TBS / giphy.com




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Can You Guess The Skarsgård?

Sure, there’s Alexander, but what about the rest of the stupidly attractive Skarsgård clan? Could you pick them out of a lineup?

























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Tell Us About Yourself(ie): Kim Raver

Bryan Bedder / Getty Images


























What's your wallpaper on your phone and/or computer?My kids.When you walk into a bar, what do you typically order?Tequila usually gets me into trouble so usually a glass of wineWhat's the one word you are guilty of using too often?"Amazing."What is the last thing you searched for on Google?National Women’s Health Week when I partnered with them and Colgate Total Advanced Whitening, my go-to for a healthier and whiter smile.





















Who is the last person that called or texted you?Mary Lynn from 24.What was the last awkward situation you were in and how did you handle it?Giving directions to a taxi driver in London. I stopped being the New Yorker and just let him drive me.When is the last time you went to a theater?In London four weeks ago.What TV show should everyone should be watching?24: Live Another Day, Homeland, Modern Family





















And what is your TV guilty pleasure?The Real Housewives of New YorkWhat's the first CD you bought?ColdplayWhat music are you currently listening to?Daft PunkWhat is the one food you cannot resist?Dark ChocolateWhat movie makes you laugh the most?21 Jump Street





















What drives you absolutely crazy?Annoying crazy? The sound of lawn mowers or Drive Crazy in a good way? Chocolate CakesPick one: Kittens or puppies?PuppiesNew York or Los Angeles?New YorkComedy or drama?Drama





















Bacon or Nutella?Nutella'80s or '90s?'80’s.And finally: tell us a secret.Watch out for Episode 12.


























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How Everything We Do Makes A Lasting Impact That Goes Beyond Karma

We come into this world alone and we leave alone. This is what we have been taught to believe. Many of us rely on this belief to justify how quickly we end relationships and friendships. Some of us use this is an excuse to be alone rather than build new relationships with others. But we […]
How Everything We Do Makes A Lasting Impact That Goes Beyond Karma

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Servers Not Servants: 31 Things Your Waiter Wishes You Knew

“Good evening ladies, welcome to the Tavern. My name is Kelley and I will…” “Seltzer, please, with a lime.” “Absolutely, I’ll be right back with that.” We would never cut someone off we just met at a party, so why do we do it in a restaurant? When you go out to wine and dine, you […]
Servers Not Servants: 31 Things Your Waiter Wishes You Knew

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Forget Temporary Fixes, The Only Way To Fight Sadness Is To Face It

I have a friend who struggles with alcoholism. He knows that it is a problem for him and that it’s negatively affecting his life, but it seems like he is powerless against alcohol’s will. However many times he has said that he will stop and he’s serious this time, he always gives in to his […]
Forget Temporary Fixes, The Only Way To Fight Sadness Is To Face It

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Uh oh, the humble USB has a serious security problem

Ah, the USB. The framework holding our digital lives together. The one we can always rely on. And no matter how many times we pull you out without ejecting first, you still work anyway. USB, we love you.But the USB could also become a weapon of mass digital destruction. According to Wired, security researchers have reverse engineered the firmware that controls basic USB functions. But even worse, they've written a piece of malware called BadUSB that can be put onto a USB and "completely take over a PC, invisibly alter files installed from the memory stick, or even redirect the user's internet traffic." That doesn't sound too good to us.Hidden in plain sightBecause the malware is actually hidden in the firmware, be it on a thumb drive or a keyboard, it's very, very difficult to delete. "You can give it you your IT security people, they scan it, delete some files, and give it back to you telling you it's 'clean'," said security researcher Karsten Nohl. "The cleaning process doesn't even touch the files we're talking about."The pair of researchers will be demonstrating their findings at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas. But for now, you're best advised to not go sticking your USBs into any computers you don't trust.IT security in 2014: the threats and the solutions

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Round up: Accounts and invoicing software: top five on the market

Introduction, FreshBooks and QuickBooksWhere business is concerned, it goes without saying that keeping your finances in order is imperative. Not only is it necessary in order to ensure that invoices are sent out and paid on time and to help with forecasting cash-flow, but detailed financial records are critical when the taxman comes knocking.Nowadays, there's no excuse for not keeping your finances up-to-date. Records don't need to be meticulously written out by hand, but can be fed into a computer and presented as required. What's more, today's accounts and invoicing packages can do far more than what was reasonably possible with just a pen and paper. Computers, and now the web, have made managing your business finances easy.Choosing the software with which to manage your business finances, on the other hand, can be a trickier matter. Finding the right type of package for your needs online is not an exact science and different packages aren't always directly comparable. It's unlikely that you have the time to trawl through trial after trial of potential software to find the one that is right for your organisation, so here we're going to highlight some of the best packages available to help you get started.FreshBooksWeb: http://www.freshbooks.comPrice: Basic package for free; paid packages from US$19.95 (around £12, AUD$21) per monthFreshBooks is one of a burgeoning number of cloud-based accounts and invoicing packages, meaning it's accessible from anywhere and your data is automatically backed up. Indeed, along with ease of use, these are the two main benefits touted by the company.FreshBooks provides four main services to its users: online invoicing, expense tracking, time tracking and accounting reports/tax functionality. Users can set up online invoicing and customise it to meet their requirements, such as adding their company's branding. Options for setting up recurring invoices and automatic payments are available, as well as the option to accept payments via PayPal. Offline payments can also be tracked. For expense tracking, FreshBooks can connect to nearly 10,000 different credit cards to automatically pull in statement data. Data can also be manually imported via a number of different file types and scans or photographs of receipts can be easily attached to expense submissions.Users can input the time taken for a task into FreshBooks as a means of tracking productivity. Staff rates can be set and team timesheets tracked on a project-by-project basis. It is also possible to track unbillable time, such as staff hours spent on internal administration.FreshBooks allows you to keep track of where you are up to with your accounts and when certain accounts are due. Profit and loss can be tracked and finance reports exported. Tax summaries can be automatically calculated and produced to make the process as simple as possible for your business.QuickBooks OnlineWeb: http://www.intuit.co.ukPrice: From £9 (around US$15, AUD$16) per monthQuickBooks is another finance platform that has now moved to the cloud. QuickBooks Online provides all of the core functionality of its predecessor, such as being able to send invoices and receive payments, tracking sales and expenses and managing VAT, but with the added benefit of being accessible from all of your devices. As well as being accessible on your computer via the web, QuickBooks has iOS and Android apps available for use on smartphones and tablets.The main features of QuickBooks are available to all users, but the platform is also highly customisable based on the user's needs. Add-ons can be activated to provide new and extended functionality. In addition to providing broadly useful functionality, such as managing payroll, accepting credit card payments and stock control, add-ons are also available for connecting QuickBooks to specific CRM, contact management and e-commerce platforms. It's even possible to connect QuickBooks to other finance packages, such as FreshBooks, Harvest and Tradeshift.The ability for users to accept credit and debit card payments and run their payroll with QuickBooks are selling points, as these features are not always present with other accounts and invoicing platforms. Of course, users get all the standard functionality that you'll find elsewhere too, such as reporting, dashboards to flag up current and recent activity, the option to customise invoices, sales and expense tracking and bank account syncing.Xero, Sage One and ZohoXeroWeb: http://www.xero.comPrice: From £9 per month (around US$15, AUD$16)Like FreshBooks and QuickBooks, Xero makes a point of highlighting its cloud and mobile accessibility, the option for users to connect and sync their bank accounts, and the standard functionality for creating invoices and accepting payments. Also like QuickBooks, it allows functionality to be extended via the use of add-ons.Xero's accounting function allows businesses to have multiple users and set permissions for what each user can see and do. Data is kept up to date in real-time and the software itself is updated every three to six weeks with, we quote, "innovative new features and enhancements," based on customer feedback. Accounts can be kept updated automatically using the platform's reconciliation feature. Xero will link with bank accounts, credit cards and PayPal, as well as supporting over 160 foreign currencies and providing real-time exchange rates.As with other invoicing platforms, users can brand their documents as required. Invoicing is processed online and the functionality to receive credit/debit card payments from customers is more deeply integrated than on some other platforms. Overdue payments and outstanding amounts are also highlighted.Xero also offers a comprehensive reporting function, which includes 40 standard reports, the ability to track performance in certain business areas, audit-trail support for completing tax returns and the ability to export detailed datasets. Amongst its other useful features are purchase order creation, expense and payroll management, multi-currency handling and free around-the-clock email support.Sage OneWeb: http://www.sage.co.ukPrice: From £5 (around US$8, AUD$9) per monthSage is a major player when it comes to financial software packages. It has been doing finance for a long time and is one of the biggest providers in the business. In addition to the peace of mind that comes with using such a well-regarded software package, Sage can offer 24/7 phone, email and online support, and a huge community of users that can also be drawn upon when required. Step-by-step articles and video tutorials are available to help bring users up to speed when it comes to getting used to the software. Having previously been an on-premise piece of software, Sage One is now cloud-based, like other platforms. Functionality-wise, it offers much the same as other platforms too. Users can create branded invoices and receive payments, track income and expenditure, keep track of how their business is doing and print reports for different areas. A summary screen provides a quick-glance view of a business's performance and profit to-date can be calculated and viewed. Outstanding invoices and upcoming payment dates are also displayed. Incoming payments can be tracked and credit notes issued as required. The platform also provides a comprehensive overview of activity recorded against each client. As with some other accounts and invoicing platforms, Sage One also allows users to provide accountants with access to their data. Access levels can be customised as required. ZohoWeb: https://www.zoho.comPrice: Basic packages from freeOne final platform that's worth mentioning (although there are other worthwhile efforts out there as well, which we haven't had the space to cover) is Zoho. The reason for this is that Zoho has been quietly going about its business of offering feature-loaded cloud-based software for years now. Not only that, it tends to stick to freemium or low cost-of-entry models.Its invoicing and accounting tools are actually separate, but, as with Zoho's other products, they can be used together in a modular fashion. Zoho Invoice allows users to create custom invoices, track time, send payment reminders and accept payments online. It also provides analytics and insights into business performance. The platform is free to use for one user with up to five customers. Paid services begin at US$15 (around £9, AUD$16) per month for up to 3 users with 500 customers.Zoho Books, meanwhile, allows users to manage their business finances, track expenses and connect their bank accounts for real-time updates and transaction tracking. As with Zoho Invoice, an analytics and insights function is also provided. Zoho Books has a flat-rate of US$24 (around £14, or AUD$25) per month. Users can try it free for two weeks and receive a two month discount for signing up to the annual plan.

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AMD launches A1100 64-bit Opteron developer kits

Developers can now buy AMD's first developer kit based around its Seattle 64-bit ARM processor, the Opteron A1100. It will retail for $2,999 (about £1,900, AU$ 3,200).The development kit comprises of a single processor with four Cortex-A57 cores with 16GB DDR3 RAM, 8 SATA connectors, standard power connectors and PCI express connectors, all crammed on a small microATX motherboardAlso included in the package is a Standard Linux GNU tool chain, including cross-development version, a Fedora Linux distribution, platform device drivers, Apache web server, MySQL database engine, and PHP scripting language for developing robust Web serving applications.More to come?During an update earlier this year, it was revealed that the A1100 will accommodate up to eight cores clocked at up to 2GHz. AMD is still using an old 28nm process, which means that power dissipation - which stood back then at 20W - could still be slashed.The processor comes with 4MB L2 cache and 8MB L3 cache as well as an additional Cortex-A5 core and an unidentified coprocessor tasked with encryption and compression duties.Expect to see demos of the A1100 at IFA in Berlin, Germany in September. Last year, AMD displayed complete kits from its SeaMicro acquisition including an imposing server rack.Should Qualcomm buy AMD?

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24 Epic Journeys To Take Across Britain Before You Die

There are so many spectacular ways to see this isle.









Britain is a big island.






Creative Commons / Flickr: 24736216@N07














It's criss-crossed with routes.






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And there are loads of different ways you can traverse it.






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You could cycle 874 miles from Land's End...






Creative Commons / Flickr: karen_roe




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These Guys Recreate Famous Movie Posters By Casting Themselves As The Lead Roles (Photos)

Movies are great, but sometimes they can feel unrealistic. It’s hard to imagine yourself in a similar position as a character when they’re played by a big-time actor or actress. Well, a couple of Imgur users have found a solution to this problem by recreating the posters for major movies by putting themselves in them. The […]
These Guys Recreate Famous Movie Posters By Casting Themselves As The Lead Roles (Photos)

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Skate Legend Chris Cole Explains To Us What We Can Expect From The Future Of Skateboarding

The future of skateboarding is a highway with endless destinations, but to learn more about where it’s headed, we first need to take a step back and remember where it all began. Today’s generation may be enamored with MegaRamps and risking it all on a 20-set stairs, but in a time when there was nothing […]
Skate Legend Chris Cole Explains To Us What We Can Expect From The Future Of Skateboarding

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7 Reasons Every 20-Something Should Take Advantage Of A Little Solitude

I am 21 and live alone in the biggest city in the world. In a place like New York, it might seem easy to meet people, but truthfully, I’ve never felt lonelier than amidst this hustle and bustle. I can count the number of people I know in the city on one hand. Don’t get […]
7 Reasons Every 20-Something Should Take Advantage Of A Little Solitude

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Ladies, Perfection Is A Myth — And It’s Not What Men Want

Who is the ideal woman? She’s a pristinely groomed, doe-eyed fox with unrelenting class illuminating through her faultless exterior and mile-long legs. She bakes crisp apple pie and sings mellifluous tunes as she lathers her silky, frizz-resistant locks in her post-pilates shower. During the day, she’ll make your parents swoon with gratitude and pride, but […]
Ladies, Perfection Is A Myth — And It’s Not What Men Want

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Why Every 20-Something Girl Should Have A 30-Something Man In Her Dating Portfolio

Our generation has been the guinea pigs of modern dating. We’ve Tindered and we’ve gone PlentyOfFish-ing; we have utilized every kind of dating app, website and other obscure resource to find a partner. Yet, I still hear from my fellow 20-something women that the men they’ve met lack a certain level of maturity that is […]
Why Every 20-Something Girl Should Have A 30-Something Man In Her Dating Portfolio

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Airline Crew Member Let Passengers Coming From Music Festival Flush Their Drugs Before Landing

A crew member on a Jetstar flight to Sydney didn’t want to see a bunch of kids arrested for having fun at a music festival, so he told the passengers to flush their drugs down the plane’s toilet. He claimed drug-sniffing dogs would be waiting at the airport. According to the Daily Telegraph, many of the […]
Airline Crew Member Let Passengers Coming From Music Festival Flush Their Drugs Before Landing

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Couple Documents Love By Taking A Photo Booth Picture Every Year (Photos)

A couple who took some fun photo booth pictures didn’t predict that it would lead to a new romantic tradition. Giles Paley-Phillips and Michelle, 36 and 32, from Seaford, East Sussex, England, have taken 13 couple photos so far. Each picture documents the changes their aging features have gone through over the years, and now, a […]
Couple Documents Love By Taking A Photo Booth Picture Every Year (Photos)

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These Old Ladies Jumping Rope Will Put Any Schoolgirl To Shame (Video)

Aging doesn’t mean forgoing your favorite pastimes — even if they’re activities you once enjoyed as a little girl. These women from Rendinara, Italy, prove that age is just a number. In this video, a few senior citizens enjoy a game of jumping rope in the street and laughing. The first women flops, but the second […]
These Old Ladies Jumping Rope Will Put Any Schoolgirl To Shame (Video)

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Watching This One-Eyed Lamb Try To Walk Is Guaranteed To Give You Nightmares

The following footage is either the freakiest creature you have ever seen or a strikingly realistic animatronic puppet. This unverified video shows what appears to be a sheep with a single, giant eye and an over-sized mouth being presented by a farmer in Turkey. It’s not uncommon for animals to be born with one eye, […]
Watching This One-Eyed Lamb Try To Walk Is Guaranteed To Give You Nightmares

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This Video Will Make You Rethink Every Little Choice You Make Throughout The Day

Your daily routine seems monotonous and predictable, but every minute alteration you make forever changes the outcome of the day and possibly your entire life. This wonderful short film from Paul Trillo takes us into the life of an average guy subconsciously designing his future by adapting to the environments he is presented with to […]
This Video Will Make You Rethink Every Little Choice You Make Throughout The Day

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Public Funds New Teeth For Young Cancer Survivor After Insurance Company Refuses

A teenager whose chemotherapy treatment caused his teeth to become too fragile to use got surgery to remove them — and now, thanks to the kindness of strangers, he’s able to get new ones. When he was 4, Alex Hunter was diagnosed with Embryonal Parameningeal Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer. After undergoing intense chemotherapy and […]
Public Funds New Teeth For Young Cancer Survivor After Insurance Company Refuses

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YouTube Star Surprises Parents By Paying Off Their Mortgage In Heartwarming Video

Timothy DeLaGhetto recently did the noble task of paying off his parents’ mortgage — all with earnings he made from YouTube. DeLaGhetto, a YouTuber who creates vlogs, music and skits on his channel, told The Daily Dot, When I started doing YouTube I was doing it for free, just to get exposure. The fact that I was […]
YouTube Star Surprises Parents By Paying Off Their Mortgage In Heartwarming Video

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Leonardo DiCaprio Is Having A Better Summer Than You, And This Water Gun Fight Is Proof

We all know Leonardo DiCaprio is the coolest guy around. He parties on yachts in Brazil. He saves endangered wildlife. And now, he has awesome water gun fights for no reason whatsoever. Leo got into an epic water gun shootout with a buddy of his. It looks like it was a grand ole’ time. Though, […]
Leonardo DiCaprio Is Having A Better Summer Than You, And This Water Gun Fight Is Proof

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America’s Sweetheart Jennifer Lawrence Was Dumped For Loving Fame More Than Her Boyfriend

Everybody loves Jennifer Lawrence, but that might be the exact reason why she was dumped by Nicholas Hoult, according to CelebrityFix. Apparently, Hoult has split with Lawrence because of her “exploded ego” and her love of fame. The couple had been together since 2011, but Hoult was recently spotted with actress Riley Keough in New York. […]
America’s Sweetheart Jennifer Lawrence Was Dumped For Loving Fame More Than Her Boyfriend

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All The Feels: The 5 Stages Of Post-College Grief

College graduation is a milestone some of us knew, almost since birth, was bound to happen. As we added notches to our belts — driver’s license, prom, high school graduation, etc. — graduation seemed as far away as our 30th birthdays. During the first three years of school, graduation was not the pink elephant in the […]
All The Feels: The 5 Stages Of Post-College Grief

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For-Profit Colleges Increasingly Targeting Veterans, New Senate Majority Report Finds

Overall enrollment in for-profit colleges is down, but it’s increasingly sharply among veterans.
















AP Photo/Al Behrman











For-profit colleges have been increasingly targeting and enrolling veterans, and raking in federal GI Bill funding, according to a report released today by Senator Tom Harkin and the Democratic majority of the Senate's education committee.

Overall enrollment in for-profit colleges has been in steep decline since 2009. In that same time frame, the report says, veteran enrollment at the country's largest for-profit colleges has "dramatically increased," with almost a third of veterans using GI Bill funding now attending for-profit colleges, up from 23% in 2009. That means that a huge chunk of federal funding for veterans' education is now flowing to public companies: of the ten top recipients of GI Bill money in 2008, eight were for-profit colleges, taking in more than $1.7 billion in GI Bill benefits in the 2013 academic year.

Harkin and Senate Democrats are well-worn foes of the for-profit college industry. Harkin first released a scathing critique of the industry exactly two years ago, and has been a primary proponent of regulations to limit the schools' access to federal money.

At the University of Phoenix, the country's largest for-profit college, veteran enrollment has increased 190%, the report said. More than 40,000 veterans now attend the school. Another of the top recipients of GI benefits, the report said, was Corinthian Colleges, the troubled for-profit giant that announced it was going out of business earlier this month in the wake of federal investigations and financial troubles. Corinthian "almost tripled" the amount of federal GI benefit money the company received between 2009 and 2013.

For companies like Apollo, which owns the University of Phoenix, veterans are desirable students. Their federal money comes in grants, not loans, so they pose no risk of going into default. Under proposed federal regulations, programs at for-profit colleges where high numbers of students default on their loans would lose their access to federal money.

For-profit colleges are also bound by regulations that say they cannot receive more than 90 percent of their revenues from federal funding. GI Bill benefits used by veterans, although they come from the federal government, don't count as part of that measurement; they are included the 10 percent of non-federal dollars. Most colleges toe the line of the "90/10 rule," drawing well above 80 percent of their revenues from federal money. It's the GI Bill benefits, the Senate report says, that allow those schools to remain in compliance with the law.

The GI Bill exemption, according to the report, "actually incentivizes these companies to aggressively market to and recruit veterans." Several different attempts have been made to amend the regulations to include GI Bill funding in the "90 percent metric," but they have been quickly shut down in committee.

Regulators in California have recently barred the University of Phoenix from enrolling veterans in several of its programs, according to the Center for Investigative Reporting. The company had run afoul of another funding regulation that prevents individual programs from getting more than 85 percent of their revenue from GI benefits.




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51 Things Only Tomorrowland Lovers Understand

Yesterday is history. Today is a gift. Tomorrow is mystery.









For EDM lovers, there's no better place in the world than the utopia of Tomorrowland.



For the past 10 years, thousands upon thousands of EDM lovers have made the journey to Boom, Belgium, for one of the world's most elaborate and magical electronic music festivals. This year, to celebrate the fest's 10th anniversary, Tomorrowland was extended to two weekends, allowing 360,000 lucky people from around the globe to experience the magic and the love.


Courtesy of Tomorrowland














When you get your invite you get all tingly knowing that you've literally received the key to happiness.







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And that all that saving up was worth it.






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And when you arrive in July, you know it's time to leave all the stresses of everyday life behind.






Courtesy of Tomorrowland




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How Much Britpop Icons Have Changed Since The '90s

In the words of Liam Gallagher, slide away…

















w.soundcloud.com













Peter Jordan/PA Archive/Press Association Images & John Stillwell/PA Archive/Press Association Images
















































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Iggy Azalea Is Going To Be In "Fast & Furious 7"

Now she’s in the movie business.









Have you heard? Iggy Azalea will appear in Fast & Furious 7.







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Vin Diesel revealed she'll make a cameo during an interview with France’s Skyrock FM. According to Diesel, Iggy was filming her Fast bit about two weeks ago.






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Currently slated to hit theaters in April 2015, Fast & Furious 7 will star Diesel, Dwayne “The Rock Johnson, and — thanks to some digital magic and “sibling look-alike stand-ins” — the late Paul Walker, who was killed in a car accident in November 2013.



Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, and Lucas Black will also return.


Kevork Djansezian / Getty














Iggy won't be the only musician turned actor in Fast 7. Franchise regulars Tyrese Gibson and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges will return, and bachata singer Romeo Santos will also appear.




Iggy's pal Rita Ora previously appeared in 2013's Fast & Furious 6.


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Why Don't British Singers Have British Accents When They Sing?

Adele sounds downright American in “Rolling in the Deep,” right? Here’s why.









Have you ever wondered why British singers don't "sound British" when they sing?






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As in, singers who have heavy accents in interviews just sound vaguely American in their songs.






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The simple answer is that singing prevents vocalists from stressing syllables, according to Josef Fioretta, a linguistics professor at Hofstra University.



"What gets lost in singing are the suprasegmentals," Fioretta says, a linguistic term used to indicate qualities like stress, tone and syllabification. In other words, a song's rhythm can limit a singer's ability to pronounce words, and especially vowels, in his or her usual cadence: "The tone, the intonation, the rhythm of a language; these all get lost in singing," he says.


fanpop.com














When syllables aren't emphasized like they are in a normal speaking pattern, they become neutralized, Fioretta explains.



So when Adele sings "never mind I'll find someone like you," the long "i" in "mind" becomes elongated, making it difficult to pronounce in a London clip. "If I say 'aBOUT,' you hear the stress on the second syllable," Fioretta says. "But when you're singing, that stress is reduced."







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Updated: Top 10 business apps for iPad

Intro and apps 1 - 3The iPad has invaded our personal lives, but it also has a place in the business world. Whether you're a large company with employees who have access to iPads for work, or a small business running your entire enterprise from the device – the key to productivity is in the App Store. So, without further ado, here are our top 10 picks for the best business apps which you can get for your Apple slate.1. SignNowSignNow is a great free app for filling out and signing documents on your iPad. SignNow can handle more than just signatures, it also allows you to fill out forms and other PDF documents. Open up any PDF, Word, or RTF document on the app to add text, ticks, and signatures to a file. You can send the finalised document by email or to other apps like Dropbox or Google Dive for storage. A great feature of this app is its ability to request signatures on a document from other people, allowing you to manage all your documents from one place – although you will have to unlock this feature with an in-app purchase. In fact several features are hidden behind in-app purchases, and at some point you will be encouraged to upgrade to a Pro account – but as long as you are a light user you won't encounter any problems not doing so.Overall, SignNow provides a great user experience, which is boosted by the inclusion of syncing and storage for your documents via a free account. For a free app, this offering certainly boasts an impressive amount of functionality.Price: Free (Upgrade to Pro for £17.49 per month)Download from iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/signnow-sign-fill-pdf-word/id489262811?mt=82. Splashtop BusinessThe Splashtop Business app allows you to access your work computer from your iPad. Effectively, the app turns the iPad's screen into your computer screen which you can access from anywhere.The clean interface is simple to use, and although the remapping of the keyboard and mouse is tricky at first, it soon becomes second nature. To allow this app to open, run, and edit files located on your computer, you will first need to download and install the Splashtop Download Streamer on your PC. Once downloaded there is a simple onetime setup, but after that, as long as both devices have a good internet connection, you'll have access whenever you need it. Privacy concerns are reassured by the provided 256-bit SSL encryption the software boasts, making Splashtop a must-have app for businesses that rely on software which is not available for iPad, but need their data to be secure. The business package from Splashtop is reasonably priced at $60 per user, per year (around £35 or AUD$63). Note that if you're only planning on personal use it is worth checking out Splashtop 2, which sports many of the main features for only £11.99 a year.Price: Free (Requires £35 yearly subscription)Download from iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/splashtop-business-remote/id650739354?mt=83. TelegramEarlier this year when Facebook bought WhatsApp, companies and individuals fled the service, and as a result Telegram's encrypted messaging platform became a hit almost overnight. Telegram is a secure private messaging service which looks and feels almost identical to WhatsApp, down to the cartoon icons in the background of a conversation window. On a more serious note, the security Telegram provides for messages is amazing. The option for cloud-based encrypted messaging is standard, but for even more secure communication you can initialise a new Secret Chat in which messages are encrypted end-to-end. Messages in a Secret Chat cannot be forwarded and can even be set to self-destruct from both devices after a set amount of time. The app was initially only available for iPhone, but unofficial versions of Telegram have been made available for iPad, Mac, Windows and Google Chrome – a truly multi-platform solution. The developer of the iPad creation admits the app is a work in progress, but at least there is an option available for iPad.Price: FreeDownload from iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/telegram-for-ipad-unofficial/id861876884?mt=8Apps 4-64. LinkedInLinkedIn in a well-known business social network, aimed at keeping you connected with family, friends and colleagues in a career-focused setting. The platform provides you with the ability to create an online CV, and relies on other members endorsing your skills – creating a socially verified page that can be shared with potential business partners. The same applies for businesses; they can add themselves to the site and create new business links, follow industry leaders, join groups and increase exposure. The site works on the principle of six-degrees of separation. Once you have built up a foundation of known connections, you should be able to find the person or business you need by passing through your contacts' connections. This also makes the service perfect for finding potential employees as you are able to see references from previous employers. Throw instant messaging into the mix and you quickly realise how powerful a business tool LinkedIn really isPrice: FreeDownload from iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/linkedin/id288429040?mt=85. Google Docs/SheetsGoogle Drive is the tech giant's offering in the cloud storage market, and until recently the app supported the creation and editing of text and spreadsheet files. However, Google made the decision to split these two elements off into their own standalone apps – Google Docs and Google Sheet.Dropbox is still my personal favourite cloud storage solution, but their app only lets you view the contents of certain file types, and lacks the ability to edit or create files. These two apps from Google can combine to provide you with a solution to managing and creating text or spreadsheet files – although note that the files you create can't be sent from the app, you can only invite people to co-author a document with you. This means that the recipient will have to sign up for Google Drive as well. On the plus side you can collaborate with colleagues on documents, and add comments.Overall, Google provides a great solution for a quick synced document that is easily available on more devices than just your iPad, but lacks the features that more detailed projects will probably require.Price: FreeDownload from iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/google-docs/id842842640?mt=86. Pages/NumbersPages and Numbers are easily described as a paid upgrade to the previous recommendation Google Docs and Sheets. The additional cost provides a ton of extra features when creating and editing documents, along with more options in terms of how you can save and share the files. The Pages and Numbers apps will let you share the file with other apps and can also save your document in a PDF format, which is extremely useful if you don't want the contents to be changed at a later date.With excellent templates included on both apps to get you started, and great spreadsheet and text editing options, making professional looking documents has never been so easy on an iPad.Price: £6.99 each (or free with iPad since September 2013)Download from iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/pages/id361309726?mt=8Apps 7-107. Puffin Web BrowserWe have all been in a situation where a website won't load properly on the iPad – and it's more than likely because your iOS device does not support Flash. Most of the web has accommodated and provided mobile versions of their sites, but there are still situations where Flash is required, and that is where Puffin browser steps in. The browser connects to the internet via the company's servers, which process the web content before streaming it to your iPad.Puffin has several features added to the browser, including theatre mode which will take video full screen, but its main selling point is the ability to deliver a site running Flash to your iPad. The app is not really designed to replace the main browser on your iPad, but when Safari on your iPad doesn't load a page, Puffin will more than likely save the day. Price: £2.99Download from iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/puffin-web-browser/id406239138?mt=88. Genius Scan – PDF ScannerThe app store is flooded with apps that scan in your physical documents using the iPad's camera, so they can be sent as images or PDFs to your contacts. The app that seems to float to the top and always find itself in the Top 10 of the business charts is Genius Scan.With this little app on your iPad you are basically carrying around your own personal portable scanner. Take a picture of the item you would like to scan and use the Genius software to locate the corners of your document. The app then takes over and adjusts the image accordingly, taking care of any perspective issues you encountered whilst initially taking the photo.The finished product is a colour scan of your page cropped to size, and this app is commendably easy to use. Genius Scan also caters for documents by grouping together scans with other pages of the same document to help keep things organised and tidy.Price: Free (Upgrade to Genius Scan+ for £4.99)Download from iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/genius-scan-pdf-scanner/id377672876?mt=89. Invoice2go for iPadIf you have a small business, creating invoices and estimates can be a time sapping chore. When you also take into account the additional filing required you will more than likely realise too much of your precious business time is being wasted on paperwork.Invoice2go for iPad is a great solution for your business invoices, estimates, credit memos, purchase orders and more. Choose from over 20 templates to find a layout that suits your business, which can be personalised with your company's logo and branding.The feature list is awesome, but a few of my favourites include the ability to add PayPal buttons to your invoices so customers can click and pay you instantly, and the ability to keep track of customer payments and know how much you're owed and make business decisions with over 10 built-in reports and charts.Price: £10.49Download from iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/invoice2go-for-ipad/id415577978?mt=810. Kashoo AccountingKashoo has provided an iPad app to complement its solid online accounting services. Kashoo enables businesses to keep track of all their income, outgoings and view Kashoo generated reports. Essentially, Kashoo provides you with the tools you need to do all the business basics from your iPad, from quickly entering expenses to creating professional looking invoices. Financial reporting is its real strong point, as it goes into some detail. Kashoo also gives you a really useful clean and simple overview of your accounts so your business can keep track of its finances.To start with, Kashoo is free to download and the majority of features are free, but you will need to upgrade to a Pro account if you would like to remove the Kashoo branding from your invoices, or if you need offline access to your files, or require additional reports and templates.Price: Free (Upgrade to Pro for £34.99)Download from iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/kashoo-accounting/id442878143?mt=8

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Samsung Galaxy Alpha release date tipped for August 4

The Samsung Galaxy Alpha is still somewhat of an enigma, but things may become a lot clearer next week.It seems the Galaxy Alpha will end up being slightly shrunken Galaxy S5 with the body shape of the Galaxy S2, and according to SamMobile it'll be mad...

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Exclusive: Microsoft interested in using eye-tracking VR headset for Xbox One

Last week we reported that FOVE, creator of the world's first head-mounted eye-tracking display, had been accepted into Microsoft's Ventures London programme - igniting speculation that Microsoft was sniffing around some new gaming VR tech.Now a source...

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Old Habits Die Hard: 7 Reasons Why You Should Never Go Back To A Cheater

These days, it seems like every person has fallen victim to an unfaithful significant other. At the very least, we all know somebody who’s been cheated on and probably, someone who’s cheated. Becoming more and more common, though, are the people who have forgiven a cheating boyfriend or girlfriend and tried to carry on with […]
Old Habits Die Hard: 7 Reasons Why You Should Never Go Back To A Cheater

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Why We Only Have So Much Say When It Comes To Choosing Our Friendships

The greatest piece of advice my best friend ever gave me was this: “You can’t choose who your friends are, only who your friends aren’t” It’s a phrase that he uttered to me during one of our many late-night hang out sessions in front of his house, where we would often discuss the many aspects […]
Why We Only Have So Much Say When It Comes To Choosing Our Friendships

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What ‘The Bachelorette’ Can Teach Us About Love In Real Life

Drama, romance, intrigue and good-looking guys sans-shirts set the premise for the ABC hit show, “The Bachelorette,” and as far as quality reality television goes, this show hits all the deal-makers, as well as deal-breakers. Let’s start with the deal-breakers, though: “The Bachelorette” is definitely set up for failure. Essentially, it’s a show where viewers are […]
What ‘The Bachelorette’ Can Teach Us About Love In Real Life

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Google’s European Privacy Rights Debate Forum Calls For Public To Weigh In

 Earlier this month Google announced its committee of Google-selected “experts” who are sitting in public judgement on Europe’s so-called ‘right to be forgotten’ (rtbf) ruling — by interrogating privacy-related issues, holding public meetings, banging the debate drum and generally doing the work of a public policy thinktank at Google’s behest. The… Read More

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Robocoin Opens The First Bitcoin ATM In Vegas, Baby

 Luck be a protected cryptocurrency-based transaction via a highly secure, distributed network tonight! Robocoin, a bitcoin ATM company, has announced that they’ve placed the first bitcoin ATM on the Las Vegas strip where the high-rollers and low- can go to turn their winnings into crypto cash. Read More

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Nintendo Posts A Loss Despite Wii U Sales Tripling During The Quarter

 Nintendo’s quarterly results are out (via WSJ), and the company saw disappointing sales of both its hardware platforms, with the Wii U managing to triple sales but still only achieving 510,000 units shipped overall, and the Nintendo 3DS dropping below a million units moved with a 41 percent decline in sales year-over-year.
The release of Mario Kart 8 still managed to buoy the… Read More

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Ex-Zynga Developers Land $2.5 Million For New Studio JuiceBox Games

 Three former Zynga developers have raised $2.5 million to build out their new gaming studio, JuiceBox Games, on the back of the release of their first gaming title HonorBound. With 3 million downloads and counting, JuiceBox’s first game is already generating revenue for the company. The game is ranked 94 on the list of top-grossing apps with a daily revenue estimate of $14,726 and… Read More

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Movidius Launches Improved Version Of The Vision Processor That Powers Google’s Project Tango

 Movidius isn’t exactly a household name (yet), but chances are you came across the company’s name when Google launched its Project Tango smartphones and tablets earlier this year. Those are Google’s testbeds for seeing what developers can achieve when mobile devices have advanced 3D sensing on a phone and Movidius provided the specialized vision processor for those devices. Read More

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Square Reveals A Reader For Chip Payment Cards Ahead Of Coming U.S. Launch

 Square is set to bring its payment card reader for mobile devices in line with modern tech used most places in the world outside of the U.S. – today it revealed its upcoming EMV and chip-compatible dongle, which will be available soon for pre-order with an estimated ship date of sometime in 2015.
The new reader looks very similar to the existing one, but it’s designed to read… Read More

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Founders On Depression

 Last month, I wrote a post asking people working in startups to seek help if they are dealing with depression. It was a personal plea, because I have dealt with depressive episodes since I was a teenager and hate thinking about other people suffering without support. The scope of my advice is limited, however, because I don’t have the experience of balancing the emotional and… Read More

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Fling Pulls Early Eyeballs With A Random Message-Bombing Feature

 Make way for (yet) another messaging app. Fling, for that is its name, has a twist — as all messaging apps must now have — in the form of a random message-flinging interface which sends your photo or text (or captioned photo) to up to 50 other users anywhere around the world. Read More

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Following Blockbuster Q2 Results, Twitter’s Stock Opens At Four-Month High

 Twitter is out of the woods — or so it seems. Following yesterday’s impressive earnings report, the company has had a quick and clear reaction from the stock market. Yesterday evening, Twitter (NYSE:TWTR) was up 30 percent in after-hours trading. This morning, shares opened at $47.01, 21.8 percent above yesterday’s closing price of $38.59 — it’s a four-month… Read More

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The Boy Who Lived: Warner Bros Sets Harry Potter Global Development Team

Harry Potter is also known as “the boy who lived” — and Warner Bros wants to keep it that way. The studio, which has been behind the franchise from the start way back in 2001, has now created a dedicated team to oversee its ongoing relationship with Potter creator JK Rowling. The Harry Potter Global Franchise Development team will be based in London and Burbank, and will help foster the studio’s expanded creative partnership with Rowling. Warner UK, Ireland and Spain President and Managing Director Josh Berger will add the title of President of HPGFD to his current role. The team will develop and execute a “high-level strategic vision” for the Potter brand, and its ancillary businesses, working closely with Rowling’s team at The Blair Partnership and other stakeholders and partners. Berger will be supported by Polly Cochrane in London, and Paul Condolora in Burbank.
Warner says the creation of HPGFD reflects the continuing expansion of the Potter franchise. That now includes the upcoming film series Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them; the Making of Harry Potter studio tour at Warner’s Leavesden Studios outside London; the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan and the expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Florida; a suite of Harry Potter digital services and products including the website ... Read More »

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‘Downton Abbey’ Broadcaster ITV Projects Growth, Will Not Sell Assets

ITV, the UK’s leading — and highly acquisitive — commercial broadcaster said this morning that it’s on track to deliver another year of growth despite a 3% drop in viewing figures for the flagship channel over the first six months of 2014. In releasing its half-year results, the company says external revenues are up 7% to £1,225M ($2,074M). That includes increases in non-advertising, online, pay, interactive, and ITV Studios revenues. The latter, which is one of the key areas the company has been focusing on, is up 2% to £402M ($681M). ITV has acquired a slew of independent production companies over the past nearly two years, most recently taking 80% of Pawn Stars maker Leftfield Entertainment. The broadcaster has also been on a transformation plan to reduce debt and says its total cost savings for the full year is ahead of target at about £15M ($25.4M). The acquisitions, it says, will “ensure continued good growth in ITV Studios this year and into next year” while a return to organic growth will be seen in 2015 helped by investment in scripted programming. The evolving strategy will include an increasing emphasis on international content creation and distribution. However, ITV is not expecting to be acquired itself. Liberty Global recently bought BSkyB’s 6.4% holding in ITV, but boss Adam Crozier said today that the broadcaster doesn’t plan to sell parts ... Read More »

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ICM Joins Joint Venture To Support New Companies

ICM Partners has teamed with software company Originate and law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips to support the new venture, called O Labs. The mission is to create as many as five companies a year that — as the firm’s announcement puts it — “address the challenges facing large and growing enterprises” which will start with gaming and could soon include digital video. The partners are keeping key details of their two-year agreement close to the vest: They aren’t saying how much the partners are investing in O Labs. CEO Matthew Pierce tells me that one of them has a majority stake in the JV, but won’t say which one.
The idea is that their skills in promotion, software, and the law complement each other and can be invaluable for new ventures. For the most part O Labs-supported firms will “be behind the scenes at the companies you see,” Pierce says, although they’re “not afraid” to be out front.
O Labs’ first new company is Versus, which will help video game makers offer opportunities for players to bet real cash on the outcome. “We worked hard with Manatt to be sure it’s legal,” Pierce says. That means firms offering the service must tailor the rules to laws in different states and districts and be able to verify the location and age of the players. Despite the complexity, game makers could be interested because “it’s a way to monetize your back catalog.” O ... Read More »

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Jessica Lange Set For Santa Barbara Film Fest Honor

The actress who went from reclining in King Kong’s hand to creeping us out on American Horror Story, picking up a pair of Oscars along the way, will be feted this fall by the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Organizers said today that Jessica Lange will receive the ninth annual Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film during a black-tie gala on November 16 in Santa Barbara. Presenters will be revealed in the coming months. Here’s the release:
Santa Barbara, CA – The Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s ninth annual KIRK DOUGLAS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN FILM will be presented to two time Academy Award-winning actress JESSICA LANGE. Guests will gather to celebrate her achievements at a black-tie Gala dinner at Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara, Sunday November 16, 2014. In the tradition of the award, top-name presenters will be revealed closer to the event.
Commented Kirk Douglas, “Jessica Lange possess the three key elements in making it in this crazy business: talent, beauty, and intelligence…all of which have served her well and continue to do so. It is my honor to give her my award.”
Lange is in revered company, joining previous recipients Forrest Whittaker, Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Harrison Ford, Quentin Tarantino, Ed Harris, John Travolta and Kirk Douglas himself.
Acclaimed as one of the greatest actresses of her generation, Lange has dazzled the screen with over thirty credits to her name. She ... Read More »

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Allison Williams Cast As Peter Pan In NBC Musical ‘Peter Pan Live!’

Girls co-star Allison Williams has been cast as the title character in NBC’s Dec. 4 live staging of Peter Pan Live!. Williams, who has sung on her HBO show and in various other projects, is a classically trained singer whose online singing videos have logged millions of views. She will star opposite Christopher Walken, who had been cast as Captain Hook. “We think she will bring the perfect blend of ‘boyish’ vulnerability and bravado to save the day against Christopher Walken’s powerful Captain Hook,” NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt said. Williams, daughter on NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams, said that she’d wanted to play Peter Pan since she was about 2, “this is a dream come true.” “It’s such an honor to be a part of this adventure, and I’m very excited to get to work with this extraordinarily talented team. And besides, what could go wrong in a live televised production with simultaneous flying, sword fighting and singing?” Craig Zadan and Neil Meron executive produce.

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Overweight NFL Logos Is The Most American Thing You’ll See All Day (Photos)

NFL players are in top physical shape. Most fans watching at home? Not so much. America is an awesome place, mostly because of freedom and sports like football. But this country is also a trap for things like greed, excess and ratchet eating. One artist decided to merge the league with reality by creating these […]
Overweight NFL Logos Is The Most American Thing You’ll See All Day (Photos)

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The Differences Between Summer And Winter In New York

There are upsides and downsides (fine, mostly downsides) to both winter and summer in The Big Apple. Spring and fall are times of limbo; they aren’t too extreme and represent the narrow window of time that makes our city lives much more pleasant and convenient. From being able to indulge in long spring walks to crisp […]
The Differences Between Summer And Winter In New York

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Nobody Knows How To Start A Conversation On Tinder Better Than This Guy (Photo)

There are a number of strategies you can adopt to increase your chances of getting a match on Tinder, but after getting someone else to swipe right there’s only one things that matters: your opening line. At least 97 percent of the time, introductions involve some variation of “Pics?,” “DTF?,” or an incredibly cheesy pick-up […]
Nobody Knows How To Start A Conversation On Tinder Better Than This Guy (Photo)

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Orlando Bloom Threw A Punch At Justin Bieber Last Night During Fight Over Miranda Kerr (Video)

Orlando Bloom and Justin Bieber got into something of a scuffle last night in Ibiza. Apparently, Bloom threw a punch at Bieber outside the Cipriani restaurant. Bloom didn’t connect, but the crowd gathered around the stars, allegedly cheering when the punch was thrown. The tension seems to stem from Bloom’s relationship with ex-wife Miranda Kerr. […]
Orlando Bloom Threw A Punch At Justin Bieber Last Night During Fight Over Miranda Kerr (Video)

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Driverless cars are heading to UK roads next year

The UK government is set to confirm measures that will allow driverless cars to to be used on public roads next year.Currently, driverless vehicles are only permitted on private roads, but the UK government is to outline plans that will introduce test cars onto the UK's public roads from January 2015.The Department of Transport will begin reviewing public road laws to accommodate self-driving cars, with Business Secretary Vince Cable announcing a £10 million prize fund to be awarded to a town or city to host the trials.You're probably already aware of Google's involvement in driverless cars, but a number of other major manufacturers, including Ford, Toyota, BMW, Hyundai and Audi are currently also working on driverless technology.Safety firstVolvo's another one beavering away at autonomous vehicles. Nick Connor, Managing Director of Volvo Cars, told us in a statement: "We're currently working with authorities in Sweden on a similar trial in Gothenburg for our DriveMe programme of self-driving cars. Support of national and local government is crucial if we are to demonstrate the real life-changing potential of this technology and encourage adoption from the public."Driverless cars aren't pie in the sky or innovation for its own sake. They can make our roads safer, our air cleaner and our cities less congested."He added that driverless technology should help the company to achieve its vision that by 2020 "no one should be killed or seriously hurt by a Volvo".Opinion: Google's driverless car hysteria shows humans are too stupid to drive

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Twitter continues to grow, posts better-than-expected revenues

The numbers are out and it looks like Twitter has had yet another good quarter with the number of monthly active users growing by nearly a quarter year-on-year to 271 million.More than three quarters of these - 211 million - were mobile users and timeline views were up year-on-year by 15% to 173 billion.Twitter revenues went up to $312 million (about £185 million, AU$333 million) with earnings per share of $0.02, far higher than what the analysts - and Wall Street - had expected. A whopping 88% of the revenues were generated from timeline views.What's the point of Twitter if it's just like Facebook?Year-on-year revenues grew by 124% with the majority coming from mobile advertising. GAAP losses however have more than tripled to $145 million (about £86 million, AU$ 155 million) over the same period, something which might be a cause for concern for investors.Looking at the bigger picture, shares of Twitter jumped by more than a quarter overnight to reach nearly $49 (about £29, AU$ 52) in after hours trading. That is still a third off its 52-week high.

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Sony Xperia Z3 Compact leak hints at a promising full HD display

We've seen a handful of rumours floating around regarding the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact, and these have now been joined by a few leaked images and a smattering of specs from China.Spotted on Chinese social media site Sina Weibo, the shots were picked up b...

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TechRadar Deals: Save over £80 on the GoPro Hero3+ Silver Edition camera

You can save £80 on the GoPro Hero3+ Silver Edition camera today - it's only £199.00 at Amazon. The GoPro range is well-loved by amateur adventurers and professional athletes alike for being simple to use, offering a huge array of mounting options, most importantly, capturing some incredible footage. Don't miss out.Check out our other deals below:RHA SA950i portable headphones is now only £29.95.Celestron Travel Scope 70 is now only £49.95.VonShef Deluxe Donut machine is now only £17.99.Canon EOS M with lenses is now only £199.99.Lenovo Thinkpad B50 laptop is now only £199.98.

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Review: Dell PowerEdge T20 Mini Tower Server

IntroductionThe new baby of the Dell server family, the PowerEdge T20, is designed for small businesses looking for a platform for shared storage and to host applications such as email, web and database servers. Alternatively it could be used as a departmental or branch server where it faces stiff competition from arch-rival HP with its ProLiant MicroServer Gen 8.Small choicesThe days when you could more or less specify your own Dell server from an extensive list of options are long gone, especially when it comes to entry-level systems like the PowerEdge T20. Some buyers may be disappointed by this but it does make life easier with just the one freestanding mini-tower chassis available for the T20 fitted with a single 290W power supply.Neither as well-built or compact as the MicroServer Gen8, the Dell chassis is of workmanlike construction with a removable side panel giving plenty of access to the internals, including a compact mini-ATX motherboard mounted towards the bottom of the tower. Up to six SATA hard disks can be accommodated inside the casing with metalwork provided to accommodate two 3.5-inch disks at the bottom and two more in the top of the tower.Unfortunately the disks can't be hot-swapped and the two at the top are only accessible by removing the front panel. Moreover, although a further two 2.5-inch drives can be fitted in the space otherwise used to take an optical drive, the on-board controller only has four SATA ports which means fitting an additional adapter if you want to use all the available bays.When it comes to the disks themselves you can either source your own or have them pre-fitted by Dell, with a choice of magnetic disks up to 3TB currently available for online ordering plus a 160GB SSD. The integrated RAID controller offers support for disk mirroring and striping, but if you want RAID 5 you (again) have to plug in an extra controller.The only other major option is the CPU and even here you're limited to a choice of just two with buyers on a budget likely to go for the 3GHz Pentium G3220 which, when accompanied by a standard 4GB of memory and no hard disks, keeps the base price down to just £219 ex. VAT (around US$375, AUD$400). That, however, could be a false economy as the dual-core G3220 is more of a desktop than server processor, and most buyers will be better off with the more capable Xeon processor, in this case a quad-core 3.2GHz Xeon E3-1225 v3.With an 84W TDP and accompanied by 4GB of memory plus a 1TB SATA hard disk this configuration is much better suited to the server role yet still comes in at just £389 ex. VAT (around US$670, AUD$715), rising to £445 (around US$765, AUD$815) if you add a second 1TB drive to support disk mirroring.Growth potentialGiven that the T20 is a server the standard 4GB of ECC protected memory seems a little stingy, especially as it doesn't cost a lot to upgrade. Fortunately the base 4GB comes on just one DIMM leaving three slots free to take more. Doubling up to 8GB can be done for a shade under £50 ex. VAT (around US$85, AUD$90), and is highly recommended, with up to 32GB possible altogether should you wish for more.With just one Gigabit network interface some customers may also want to add an extra LAN adapter as well as a more capable RAID controller, with three full-length PCI Express slots available for just this purpose (plus an old style PCI slot).You'll also find USB ports all over the place – four at the front and six at the back. Moreover two of each set are USB 3.0, plus there are controls in the BIOS to turn off those you don't need, presumably to stop rogue devices being attached.One final consideration is the need to factor in the cost of an operating system as this isn't included in the basic price. Linux is supported if required, but those wanting to run Windows Server Essentials 2012 R2 will find it adding around £225 ex VAT (around US$385, AUD$410) to the overall cost. Alternatively it would be possible to boot straight to a hypervisor from disk or SSD, but there's no USB or SD slot to take an embedded hypervisor as on the HP MicroServer.VerdictWe likedWith its quad-core Xeon processor the T20 is a very nippy little server, booting from cold in just a few seconds and handling Windows Server 2012 R2 with ease. We would have liked an embedded hypervisor option, but a bootable SSD can fulfil this role and there's plenty of room for storage to cope with the file sharing and application needs of many small businesses.The mini-tower form factor is another plus and despite having three cooling fans the T20 is a relatively quiet little machine. Ideally it needs to be locked away somewhere but, if pushed, could be used in an open plan office without causing too much annoyance.We dislikedDell has clearly cut corners to keep the price of the T20 low, which is fine for customers looking for a basic file and print platform but not so good for others wanting to host more demanding applications. Extra memory is a must and we would have preferred easier access to the storage bays as seen on the MicroServer Gen8. Customers wanting an optical drive will also have to pay £35 (around US$60, AUD$65) to add one to the spec, and pay for a separate cable on top of that.Although not a deal-breaker for most SMEs, the T20 loses out big time in the management stakes to its HP rival, relying on the Active Management Technology (AMT) built into the Intel processor (Xeon only) rather than Dell's tried and trusted iDRAC alternative. Basic remote monitoring and power management are available through a simple browser interface, but additional software is needed to access more advanced controls. A number of tools are available from both Intel and Dell to do this, but these may be over-the-top for many small businesses.Final verdictA lot of server for the price of the average desktop, the PowerEdge T20 is fast and has room for lots of storage. The base configuration is a bit lean, management is lacking and for Windows you'll have to factor in the cost of the operating system, but it's still a capable entry-level system and good value for money.

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