Couple Spends Close To $40K On Life-Like Sex Dolls For Threesomes (Photos)

Most relationships involve just two people — that’s why they’re usually called partnerships or couples. Some, however, are different. Open relationships work in some relationships, and other times, couples like to involve other people in their sexual escapades to spice things up. There’s nothing wrong with it; it’s just uncommon. Dave Hockey and Shawna Bigelow […]
Couple Spends Close To $40K On Life-Like Sex Dolls For Threesomes (Photos)

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Man Distracted By iPad Accidentally Walks Past Security, Causes Airport-Wide Evacuation

An Australian man caused an airport evacuation when he became so enthralled with his iPad that he walked right past security. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the unnamed man had just gotten off a flight Saturday morning but, instead of joining the massive security line, he proceeded to walk into a far less-crowded exit […]
Man Distracted By iPad Accidentally Walks Past Security, Causes Airport-Wide Evacuation

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The Terrifying Moment A Great White Shark Attacks One Of Its Own (Video)

An Australian diver has captured the extremely rare moment in which a great white shark attacked its own kind. According to the Daily Mail, 33-year-old Adam Malski was off the Neptune Islands south of Australia studying a great white known as “Gilbert” by locals. Despite being nearly 20 feet long, the fish didn’t seem very […]
The Terrifying Moment A Great White Shark Attacks One Of Its Own (Video)

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Badass Hong Kong Protestor Catches Can Of Tear Gas And Chucks It Back At Police (Video)

As the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong grow, police have resorted to releasing tear gas on the gathered activists. Footage from inside the crowd shows the incredible moment a Chinese protestor catches a tear gas canister thrown by law enforcement. Never hesitating, he hurls the can back into the line of police. Police have been […]
Badass Hong Kong Protestor Catches Can Of Tear Gas And Chucks It Back At Police (Video)

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In Case You Were Wondering, Caffeine-Infused Underwear Actually Exists (Video)

If you’re looking to fight cellulite, caffeine-boosted undies are not the solution. The Federal Trade Commission has found underwear brands Wacoal America and Norm Thompson guilty of deceptive advertising. Ads put out by both companies led customers to believe that they would lose significant amounts of weight as a result of fabric infused with caffeine. […]
In Case You Were Wondering, Caffeine-Infused Underwear Actually Exists (Video)

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Burger With A Side Of Bullets: Louisiana Restaurant Offers Discount To Gun-Carrying Customers

A Louisiana restaurant is offering a 10 percent discount for any customer carrying a firearm. According to the Huffington Post, Bergeron’s Restaurant in Port Allen, LA, has been giving out 15 to 20 discounts a day since the offer began a few weeks ago. Owner Kevin Cox said his original intention was to encourage police […]
Burger With A Side Of Bullets: Louisiana Restaurant Offers Discount To Gun-Carrying Customers

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6 Traits That Will Bring Success In The Long-Term Rather Than Right Now

The world is changing every day, and the speed of that change is increasing. As a result of this, sometimes you need to stop and analyze the signals you receive in order to better adapt your behavior to what the future prepared for us. So, here are six traits that will dominate modern societies of […]
6 Traits That Will Bring Success In The Long-Term Rather Than Right Now

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A Tale Of Two Cities: If New York Destroys Your Soul, California Will Save It

Sometimes, without even realizing it, we are settling by staying in a place where we’ve been with the same people, talking in the same way and even thinking the same things. You’re comfortable; you think you can predict the next event, the rest of your day and the things around you. But, why? Must we […]
A Tale Of Two Cities: If New York Destroys Your Soul, California Will Save It

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Why This Generation Needs To Cease Valuing Materialism Over Individuality

Why are we taught that having the most “things” will yield the most happiness? Obviously, this isn’t true, as many fortunate people are severely unhappy. But, why is this? Why do we place such a high value on items? I mean, ultimately, they’re just objects, after all. Many American families are in competition with each another for […]
Why This Generation Needs To Cease Valuing Materialism Over Individuality

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20 Things No One Tells You About Post-College Working Life

When I graduated from university with a shiny degree in engineering, I really thought working would be a piece of cake. All one has to do is be charming and committed, and everything else will take care of itself, right? Boy, was I wrong. Here are the 20 things no one tells you about working when […]
20 Things No One Tells You About Post-College Working Life

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Weed Isn’t Heroin: Why The Hell Is It Taking So Long To Legalize It?

I shall name my daughter Marijuana and we will call her Mary Jane… If Gwyneth Paltrow can name her daughter Apple, and Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, I think marijuana is, if anything, a more than respectable choice for a first name. At least it has meaning behind it. At least it stands for something… a fight, a […]
Weed Isn’t Heroin: Why The Hell Is It Taking So Long To Legalize It?

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Live Your Life In Such A Way That No One Can Ever Say A Bad Word About You

When you die, there is only one piece of you that survives, goes on to live outside of you – your meme. I’m not talking about Internet Memes, but meme memes. Memes are ideas, behaviors, concepts, styles, trends, etc., that spread throughout a culture from person to person – basically by word of mouth. After […]
Live Your Life In Such A Way That No One Can Ever Say A Bad Word About You

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Basis Peak fitness tracker adds touchscreen, smartwatch notifications

Get ready to climb new heights in your workout routine with the Basis Peak strapped to your wrist. One of the most accurate fitness trackers is due for a redesign in November.The iOS 8 and Android-compatible watch is being fashioned by Basis, now an Intel company, to be slightly more aesthetically pleasing than the Basis Carbon Steel Edition.Front and center is a new touchscreen interface that makes it easier to swipe through menus rather than pressing one of the four corners to move about in a confusion fashion. The touchscreen makes it more like Android Wear, and in that vein is crosses into smartwatch territory via notifications for incoming calls, SMS and email.Basis Peak fitness featuresNotifications won't be available for November's Basis Peak launch, but come in a free software update, according to Basis. Hopefully it fares better than the doomed Fitbit Force notifications we demoed.What will be part of the fitness tracker from the get-go are five returning metrics: steps, calories, skin temperature, perspiration and heart-rate even during workouts - not just when you ask for it.Sleep tracking is once again automatically detected, a huge advantage over the fairly accurate Jawbone Up24 tracking feature and inaccurate (when it comes to sleep tracking) Fitbit Force and Fibit Flex. Basis Peak also measures REM, deep, light sleep, which is slightly more advanced than the competition.If you're under water, it's rated for 5 ATM, which is good enough for normal swimming, and the battery lasts four days. That's the same exact Pebble Steel waterproof and battery life stats.Basis Peak price, release dateBasis Peak will be available in two colors schemes at launch: a matte black module with black and red-accented straps and brushed silver module with white and gray-accented straps.It will cost $199 (likely north of £122, AU$227) with a North American release date falling in November. Amazon, Best Buy, REI and Basis' own store will carry the new fitness tracker.The UK and Canada won't be too far behind with a release date slated for later this year.Check out our review of the Basis B1 Carbon Steel Edition

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iCloud Drive users, careful with that iOS 8 reset button

Apple's rocky iOS 8 launch apparently isn't quite over yet, as a number of users are reporting a "Reset All Settings" option appears to be living up to its name, effectively wiping out valuable iCloud Drive data it's not supposed to.MacRumors reported Monday that multiple readers on their forums have been bitten by an undocumented iOS 8 bug capable of purging documents from a connected iCloud Drive account, despite assurances from Apple that "no data or media will be deleted."The problem appears to only be affecting iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users who have first upgraded to iCloud Drive, which offers a more robust method for saving documents and other data, which can then be accessed from other synced devices.Selecting the "Reset All Settings" option found under the General > Reset menu of the Settings app is intended as a troubleshooting measure, but as the screenshot above shows, should always leave connected iCloud account data intact.iWork at riskAffected users claim the bug targets only documents saved to the cloud from Apple's own iWork suite, which is includes Microsoft Office alternatives Pages, Numbers and Keynote, while leaving data from third-party apps intact.MacRumors was able to test the apparent bug on its own hardware, noting iCloud Drive data purged from a reset iPhone also removed all iWork documents from the iCloud.com web app as well as a Mac running the latest beta of OS X Yosemite 10.10.While OS X users have been successful at restoring lost documents from backup folders or Apple's Time Machine software, the report recommends iOS 8 users who have already upgraded to iCloud Drive refrain from resetting their devices until a permanent fix can be found.Apple has yet to acknowledge the glitch, although at least one user has had their iCloud account placed into troubleshooting mode as engineers worked to investigate the problem.Go big or go home with our review of Apple's iPhone 6 Plus!

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Windows 10 is the next version of Windows Phone, too

Microsoft surprised everyone today with the announcement that the next version of Windows is called Windows 10, not Windows 9 as most had thought.But during the announcement Microsoft executives said that Windows 10 will run on devices with screen sizes ranging from four to 80 inches, raising an important question: is Windows 10 the next version of Windows Phone as well?And the answer, given during the Q&A portion of Microsoft's Windows 10 announcement, is a resounding "yes."That doesn't make it quite definitive that Microsoft won't choose something like "Windows Phone 10" or "Windows 10 for phones" down the road, but it certainly makes it seem more likely that they'll drop the "phone" and just called the OS "Windows 10" across all devices.Moving unitsThis shift was signaled earlier in September when Microsoft documents describing a gradual phasing-out of Windows Phone and Nokia branding was leaked online.Microsoft wants Windows 10 to cover a huge range of devices and be the only operating system its users need."Our new Windows must be built from the group up for a mobile-first cloud-first world," Microsoft Executive Vice President of Operating Systems Terry Myerson said during the Windows 10 reveal.Microsoft may have forgotten how to count, but at least its message with Windows 10 is clear.Best Windows Phone - which should you buy?

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Opinion: Why did Microsoft choose Windows 10 instead of Windows 9?

Microsoft didn't choose Windows 9 as the name of the next version of Windows, instead it went for Windows 10, which is still better than say, Windows TH but we're still very much surprised by this apparent snub at the number 9.Windows 10, we now know, will be cross-platform, absorbing Windows Phone (confirmed) and possibly Windows RT, Windows Server and Windows Embedded. In other words, this version of Windows is more than a mere evolution of Windows 8.1, which Windows 9 was supposed to be.Microsoft veteran, Mary Jo Foley, sums up why Microsoft chose 10: "they wanted to signify that the coming Windows release would be the last major Windows update." while Microsoft's official stance, from Myerson is that "when you see the product in your fullness I think you'll agree with us that it's a more appropriate name".Check out our Windows 10 (formerly known as Windows 9) hub.In other words, that version of Windows is likely to be the last with a suffix; expect Microsoft to stick with Windows alone and potentially extend this naming strategy to the rest of its other brands (Office, Xbox etc) as it wholeheartedly embraces and extends the "as-a-service" paradigm to the jewel in the crown: Windows.One cannot however ignore the fact that there's another operating system that carries a number 10, that's right, Apple's Mac OS X is in its 10th iteration (hence the X). Whether or not the naming convention is a subtle finger waving exercise at Apple, no one knows.Before Google and Apple, Microsoft is the first to finally come up with a unified operating system strategy, the fabled one OS to rule them all. 2015 is going to be one of the most interesting in a decade as I expect both Microsoft rival to finally merge their mobile and desktop operating system.

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Review: Asus GL551 review

IntroductionIn general, gaming laptops are an expensive proposition. With most gaming laptops starting at $1,500 (about £923, AU$1,720) or more, a mobile gaming machine a hard sell when you can just as easily put together a desktop with better performance and for less money. A few machines, like the MSI GE60 Apache, help soften the blow at an affordable $1,250 (£1150, about AU$1,433). Now, Asus meets the new pricing floor with its $1,099 (about £673, AU$1249) GL551.The price tag isn't the only thing this 15.6-inch notebook has going for it. Asus has equipped this entry level rig with a 1080p screen, Intel Core i7 processor, and a respectable Nvidia GeForce GTX 860M graphics chip. All the boxes have been checked to earn the title of "gaming machine," but has Asus cut too sharp of corners to reach budget buyers?DesignAsus hasn't cut any corners in build quality with the GL551. The notebook, however, is a mix of premium touches and compromises to keep an affordable price point. The lid is one large sheet of brushed aluminum, painted in a midnight black with a glowing Republic of Gamers insignia etched in the center. Open up the laptop, and you'll be greeted by large plastic bezels surrounding the 15.6-inch screen.Meanwhile, yet another continuous sheet of aluminum covers the keyboard deck as well as the palm rest before the rest of the laptop ultimately trails off to a portly plastic body. One odd proportion quirk about the GL551 is its rounded frame juts out on its lower right.Overall, there's nothing chintzy about the laptop, but it's clear Asus has focused on making the GL551 look good where it actually matters. LAN party rivals will recognize the ROG symbol, and it's easy to appreciate the laptop's sturdy interior.The only small gripe I have with the GL551's chassis is that there's only one exhaust vent on the laptop's left side. This small outlet pumps out concentrated heat so regularly you could keep your coffee warm with it.Thankfully, it's not an uncomfortably hot current. (You may even enjoy the constant stream of heated air during colder months.) However, you should ensure the vent is not blocked off when placing the gaming notebook near a wall or on your lap.Gamer credAs far as gaming laptops go, the Asus GL551 tries not to call too much attention to itself. The notebook doesn't threaten to turn a room into a multicolored disco, nor does it have any aggressive design quirks better suited for hypercars.If anything, the GL551 attempts to pass off as a gussied up multimedia machine, with a red backlit keyboard and crimson chamfered edges on the laptop's lower lip. Unfortunately, this toned down aesthetic is marred by the pervasiveness of Asus's Republic of Gamers logo.It would have been enough to just embroider the laptop's lid with the logo, but Asus went a bit too far, stamping the tribal tattoo on the palm rest as well. Meanwhile, Republic of Gamers is printed prominently above the keyboard. It's as if Asus is saying "hey, don't forget this is a gaming machine."SpecificationsThe Asus GL551 is one of the most heavyset 15.6-inch gaming laptops around, weighing in at a solid 6 pounds and measuring 15.0 x 10 x 1.3 inches. The comparable 15.6-inch Lenovo Y50, meanwhile, does away with a optical drive for a thinner 15.23 x 10.37 x 0.9 inch frame that weighs 5.29 pounds. Of course, the Maingear Pulse 14 wins the lightweight competition, thanks to its smaller 14-inch form factor. The Pulse 14 tips the scales at 3.8 pounds with 13.31 x 9.5 x 1 inch dimensions.Here is the Asus ROG GL551 configuration sent to TechRadar: Spec SheetCPU: 2.5GHz Intel Core i7-4710HQ Processor (quad-core, 6M cache, up to 3.5GHz with Turbo Boost)Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 860M (2GB GDDR5 RAM); Intel HD Graphics 4600RAM: 16GB DDR3L (2x 8GB at 1600MHz)Screen: 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) display, matte finishStorage: 1TB HDD (7,200 rpm)Optical drive: 8x DL DVD±RW/CD-RW DrivePorts: 3 x USB 3.0, 1 x HDMI, 1x mini DisplayPort. SDXC card reader, Gigabit EthernetConnectivity: 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0Camera: 1.2MP, 720p webcamWeight: 6 poundsSize: 15.0 x 10 x 1.3 inches (W x D x H)Asus has packed a lot into the GL551 for just $1,099 (about £673, AU$1249). Out of the trio of GL551 configurations, Asus sent TechRadar the middle tier, JM-DH71 variant. The GL551JK saves you $50 (about £30, AU$57), but as a consequence, you will have only have access to 12GB of RAM, a less capable GTX 850M GPU and downgraded storage that only amounts to 750GB. These trade offs are hardly worth the tiny savings, so ponying the tiny bit of cash to get the configuration I've listed above.Alternatively, you can score the top end GL551JM-EH71 for $1,199 (about £738, AU$1,375). However, this swaps out the 1TB hard disk drive for a 256GB solid-state drive. The price of this SSD upgrade matches up with the cost of buying your own unit. So, it's definitely economical, if you seek the extra speed bump and don't want to replace the storage unit on your own. The Asus GL551 is one of the most affordable gaming laptops I've reviewed thus far, going head to head with the similarly specced – but thinner – Lenovo Y50. Also starting at $1,099 (about £673, AU$1249), the Lenovo comes with the same 2.5Ghz Intel Core i7-4710HQ processor, Nvidia GTX 860M graphics card and a 1080p full HD display. The only down sides is the Y50 features 8GB of RAM and a half the storage space (albeit with the advantage of an 8GB SSD cache).Despite being the smallest and least equipped rig of the bunch, the Maingear Pulse 14 is also the most expensive, starting at $1,324 (about £814, AU$1,514). On paper, the Maingear fails to to merit its bigger price tag, equipped with a less capable Intel Core i5 chip and GTX 850M GPU. The only advantage this machine has over its two competitors is that it packs a 1080p screen in a smaller 14-inch package.PerformanceDon't mistake the GL551's entry level price for middling performance. The affordable Asus machine packs a wallop. It easily plowed through any game I threw at it threw at it on medium to high settings. You won't be able to turn on every graphical flourish – and forget about tessellation – but the GL551 has no problems playing recently-released games like Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor. Here's how the Asus fared in our benchmark tests:Benchmarks3DMark: Ice Storm: 105,573; Cloud Gate: 15,736; Fire Strike: 3590Cinebench CPU: 602 points; Graphics: 89.36 fps,PCMark 8 (Home Test): 3040 pointsPCMark 8 Battery Life: 2 hours and 23 minutesBioshock Infinite (1080p, Ultra): 40.55 fps; (1080p, Low): 126.55 fpsMetro: Last Light (1080p, Ultra): 11.67 fps; (1080p, Low): 26.33 fpsImpressive results indeed, especially considering the GL551 is rocking the mid-range GTX 860M graphics card with 2GB of video memory. Despite this, the GL551 churned through 3DMark's GPU intensive benchmarks scoring 16,041 points in Cloud Gate and 3,590 points in Fire Strike. Meanwhile, the Lenovo Y50 and its fully-loaded, 4GB GTX 860M completed the same tests with 13,639 and 3,650 points. Unsurprisingly the Maingear Pulse 14 performed the worst in this regard, finishing Cloud Gate with 12,603 points and Fire Strike with 3,363 points.The most likely reason for the GL551's close – and at times leading – performance compared to the Lenovo is its slightly faster CPU (the Y50 we reviewed came with a tick slower 2.4GHz Core i7 processor). This is evidenced by the PCMark 8 test, where we can see the GL551 scored 3,040 points, a markedly better performance than Y50's 2,644 score.However, it seems that having more video RAM is all too important when rendering games with more frames per second. Cinebench results show the Lenovo rig pulling ahead with 97 fps over the Asus's 89 fps.When playing actual games, the Lenovo leads again playing Bioshock Infinite on its highest settings at 42 fps, while the GL551 trails close behind with 41 fps. Not a significant difference, but every little bit of gaming horsepower will matter more as developers push hardware even harder.In between screen sheen and poor viewing anglesI was really hoping not to run into any caveats with the GL551, with its above average build quality and gaming performance. Sadly, though, Asus fell through one of the pitfalls that plagues many laptops, a poor display. There are two things you'll notice about this machine's 15.6-inch panel. First the display isn't all that deep when it comes to contrast. Second, the matte finish on the screen causes light to refract across it entire surface, washing out anything on the display.With these two problems combined, you will have a hard time figuring out the exact angle to tilt your screen. Any sunlight or illumination from an overhead lamp washes out the screen, desaturating colors and turning blacks into gray. Thanks of this, you will have to tilt the screen carefully away from you, but pushing too far reveals the screen's poor viewing angles. It's a careful balance, and you'll have to figure out exactly how to position the GL551's display every time for the optimal picture.The worse thing about the GL551 display is that, even after you've figured exactly how much to tilt the screen away from you, the picture still looks mediocre. The screen displays colors and blacks with a natural tone, but there's hardly any contrast. Dark areas within images render into black blotches, which could mean life or respawn in multiplayer games with enemy players lurking in the darkness.Another battery-guzzling gaming machineIt's pretty much a given that gaming laptops don't have very good battery life, and this Asus notebook does nothing to reverse this trend. This gaming laptop called it quits with the PCMark 8 battery test after 2 hours and 23 minutes, which falls in line with the Lenovo Y50's 2 hours and 49 minute result. The Maingear Pulse 14, by comparison, lasted a nearly identical 2 hours and 21 minutes.The Asus GL551 lasted a slightly longer 3 hours and 35 minutes while tabbing between 15 webpages on Firefox plus another two in Chrome, streaming tunes on Google Music, watching Flashpoint Paradox for an hour and playing two bouts of Hearthstone. With regular use such as this, you can expect to get through part of the day unplugged, but be sure to pack the power adapter every day.The Maingear Pulse 14 takes the cake when tasked with a similar load, hanging on for 4 hours and 2 minutes. Meanwhile, the Lenovo Y50 clocked out after just 2 hours and 45 minutes, much earlier than the rest of its competitors under similar conditions.Bundled softwareAsus has been known to put on an incredulous amount of bloatware on its notebooks, but thankfully, the company has scaled back on the amount of bundled software with its ROG line. Here are the most important bits you'll want to keep around:Asus Live Update: A simple download tool that pull the most up to date software for the GL551's pertinent system components.Asus WebStorage: 5GB of free cloud storage that, like Dropbox, you can place a shortcut to in Windows Explorer for easy access.Asus On-Screen Display: Activates more notifications when changing settings like the keyboard backlight level and turning on/off the touchpad. But why isn't this enabled by default?USB Charger Plus: Customize the way your USB ports provide power to charging devices, even when the laptop is asleep or off.VerdictThere aren't too many surprises about the Asus GL551. It checks off all the boxes you'd expect from gaming laptops without breaking the bank. Despite the value-packed price, this laptop isn't lacking in power at all. It performs admirably playing just about any title on medium to high settings.We likedGoing back to the Asus GL551's gaming performance, it has a lot of power to spread around. I was able to play Metro 2033 Redux Edition at a nearly steady 60 fps with the game turned up to "Very High" settings, plus a bit of additional tessellation and v-sync. Gamers will run into a bit more resistance trying to play more strenuous games like Wolfenstein and Battlefield 4. But a bit of careful massaging will allow you to play these titles at 30 to 40 fps.The Asus GL551 isn't the best looking gaming laptop around, however, it's mostly a joy to use and that's what really matters. The solid metal keyboard deck and palm rests is a solid platform for gamers to tap and click on well into the wee hours of the night. Plus the notebook comes with a decent set of tweeters. That saves you from having to invest in a headset to hear all of the splashy in-game explosions.We dislikedSadly, my biggest (and only) hangup with the Asus GL551 is it's downright awful display. While the screen is the singular issue I have with the laptop, it's a crucial one. This is the very display you will be looking at day in and day out, and for this reason, I can't wholeheartedly recommend it sight unseen.I would highly suggest you check out this laptop in person before buying it, just to see if it's something you can eventually get used to. Of course, there's also the option to purchase an external monitor. In my own testing, the GL551 had no problem outputting to a 27-inch 1080p screen through HDMI. But this sort of solution really defeats the purpose of such a device.Final verdictSave for the display, the Asus GL551 is a sweet package for its $1,099 price tag. Nothing about this portable rig screams budget machine. In fact, there's much more apparent Republic of Gamers branding, if anything. For the price, the GL551 delivers above average gaming performance with plenty of oomph to get gamers through the sooty plains of Mordor or the heavy metal war of Titanfall.Even with the subpar screen, I would suggest you pick the Asus GL551 over the Lenovo Y50. Having reviewed both laptops, I can say they share similarly terrible displays, and the only thing the Y50 has going for it is its brushed aluminum body. Meanwhile, the Asus machine ekes out just as much performance for a matching price, with a better battery life to boot.For the same reasons, I would also suggest you pick up the GL551 over the Maingear Pulse 14, unless you absolutely need a 14-inch gaming laptop. For now, the Asus GL551 is the best and most affordable entry level gaming laptop available.

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In Depth: Windows 10 combines the best aspects of Windows 7 and Windows 8

By now we all know the fateful story of Windows 8. Released in August 2012, the new Microsoft operating system represented an avant garde approach to computing that excited tech enthusiasts and baffled the general consumer. Hailed for its sleek design,...

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In Depth: 10 great new features in Windows 10

Microsoft just announced that the upcoming Windows 9 will, in fact, be called Windows 10. Crazy days. So let's pull out 10 of the very best new features from Microsoft's upcoming Windows XP killer. Talking about the new name, Terry Myerson - executive vice president of Microsoft's Operating Systems Group - said that the Windows 9 name "wouldn't be right" given the new One Microsoft internal strategy. Hence the move to Windows 10.The Windows 10 release date is slated for "mid-next year" as we previously estimated. There was no confirmation as per the rumour that Windows 9 might end up being free. Starting tomorrow Microsoft will start distributing a Technical Preview build of Windows 10 via the Windows Insider Program.YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84NI5fjTfpQBelfiore says phones are a "natural step forward" - so expect to see Windows Phone 10 debut in 2015.A Consumer Preview will be coming "early next year" - we reckon it will coincide with CES 2015. Microsoft says it will have more for developers at its Build 2015 conference in April when it will talk more about universal apps. That almost certainly means Windows 10 won't be launched in April.The current build of the new OS is Windows Technical Preview 9841 and is currently at a very early stage. Previously codenamed Threshold, there is currently no Internet Explorer or consumer features like a media player.1. There's loads of stuff for touch, but it's different stuffDesigned to appeal to experts and novices alike, Microsoft was at pains to point out that it hasn't given up on touch with the new OS. The Charms bar remains for the moment although we expect it to die if you're using a non-touch PC (check out Continum below). Microsoft says it wants to support touch users who have persevered with Windows 8 and "evolve" the touch UI. (Translated: That means it is changing quite a bit.) The task switching will no longer work on the left. So with that and the charms going, that's goodbye to most of the problem with Windows 8 - and a whole philosophy down the pan. Microsoft's Joe Belfiore said at the preview: "We want Windows 7 users to feel like they upgraded from a [Toyota] Prius to a Tesla, but they don't need to learn a new way to drive." 2. It's BACK!As we've covered before, the e most noticeable change is the new Start Menu, which looks somewhat like the old start menu. It brings some features from the Windows 8.1 Start Screen, such as live tiles, and can be resized.3. Another new Task View (the Windows 8 flippy thing has gone)Now the Windows 8 task switcher has been unceremoniously dumped, there's a new Task View in Windows 10, too, so users can switch between virtual desktops.That's because Microsoft now recognises that novice users use the taskbar rather than switching in other, cleverer, ways such as Alt+Tab (which also now switches between desktops).4. Snap Assist helps you snap windowsA new Snap Assist feature also helps users work out which way is best to snap apps to. You can snap windows into new screens and tile Windows - just as you've been able to since Windows 2.0 or maybe 3.0.5. The Command Prompt enters the 21st CenturyAnother quite amazing feature for those of us that use it is that the command prompt is now getting keyboard shortcuts! So you will be able to paste in your commands! Hardly groundbreaking, but actually pretty exciting. 6. Improvements to Windows ExplorerA new Home location is the new default view in Windows Explorer. There's also a Share button on the Windows Explorer taskbar (we really hope this is in the context menu, too).7. Continum - the special oneThis is the best new thing we found out today. Continum is an on-the-fly mode for 2 in 1 devices that can automatically change mode if it detects there is suddenly no keyboard attached. So, for example, a back button appears to help you navigate the Desktop with touch if the keyboard is removed. We reckon the charms will also disappear in non-touch mode, although we've heard conflicting news about that.8. Windows 10 Universal appsWindows 10 will also usher in a new app model - Universal Windows apps. Windows Universal apps are the new name for Metro apps/Modern apps/Windows Store apps. Take your pick on those old monikers, they've got a new one! Presumably (although we don't know as yet) that these will also work on Windows Phone. Windows 10 will be able to run on all devices from phones to servers and there will be a single app store across the lot.All older Windows Store apps will work with Windows 10.9. Modern (sorry, Universal) apps now float on the DesktopThe new Universal apps also work on the desktop and 'float' in their own Windows. Microsoft wants to banish the separation between the Modern UI and the Desktop.These 'modern' apps on the desktop have a ... icon for more options - replacing the commands that used to be in the charms on the right-hand side of the screen. 10. Windows 10 has lots for Business and EnterpriseMicrosoft says it hopes to appeal to business with this release of Windows, more so than Windows 8 ever did. Belfiore said they were "starting the dialogue with businesses today".To be honest, it needs to - Windows XP is now ancient and unsupported, while precious other businesses want to make the leap away from Windows 7. But part of the reason why Microsoft is demonstrating the OS without all the consumer features is to show enterprises what the OS is capable of at this stage.This version of Windows will have plenty of other features for enterprise, including a customised store and protection for corporate data. Mobile Device Management will be able to be used for all devices.Windows 10 will keep personal and corporate data separate.

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Updated: Windows 10 unveiled - Microsoft ushers in the next era of Windows by skipping 9

Microsoft unveiled Windows 10 at an event in San Francisco today, lifting the lid off the highly anticipated Windows upgrade, though not under its expected name, before a gathered group of journalists and analysts. Microsoft's Terry Myerson said the new Windows needed to be built from the ground up for a "mobile-first, cloud-first world," the mantra Microsoft has adopted ever since CEO Satya Nadella took over.To that end, Windows 10 will run on more types of devices than ever before, and Microsoft will bring forth a single application platform, complete with one integrated Store, to deliver Windows experiences across products. Myerson called Windows 10 "our most comprehensive platform ever." The OS is scalable across devices big and small, and developers will only need to write one universal app that targets all platforms. Everything from the Internet of Things to data center servers to devices with 4- or 80-inch screens will be able compatible with the new version of Windows. Microsoft jumped straight from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, leapfrogging the expected Windows 9 release. Myerson maintained that when users get their hands on the new OS, they'll see "Windows 10" is a more fitting name than "Windows 9" because the OS represents a far bigger shift than a mere one-digit jump could convey.Beginning tomorrow, Microsoft is launching a Windows Insider Program to give advanced PC users and IT managers access to the Windows 10 Technical Preview. In early 2015, Microsoft will shift the focus to the consumer side of Windows 10, and its full release will happen later in 2015. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84NI5fjTfpQWindows 10 design and featuresWith Windows 10, Microsoft is moving toward one product family that features a tailored experience for all devices rather than superseding a single UI across machines. It's also introducing - or reintroducing - a number of features to help optimize the experience for both keyboard and mouse users and those more accustom to touch.For starters, the Start menu is making its return, though this time it includes a new customizable space for users to put their favorite apps and Live Tiles. Instead of the whole screen being littered with Live Tiles, they now live adjacent to the Start menu. Windows 10 has some clear hark backs to Windows 7, by design. The company wanted to give users something familiar to work with, a complaint that plagued the jarring changes of Windows 8. For example, the traditional Windows 7 Snap View works in classic and Universal Windows 10 apps."We want all these Windows 7 users to have the sentiment that yesterday they were driving a first-generation Prius, and now with Windows 10 it's like a Tesla," Joe Belfiore said. Microsoft also sought to make its OS more novice-friendly to help them multitask better on the platform. A new "task view" button occupies a space in the task bar and lets users switch from app to app and access any desktops they have open. The desktops have mini-views along the bottom of the screen, giving users quick access to whichever one they want to work in. Multiple desktops can run simultaneously for different purposes and Microsoft assured switching between them would be easy and effortless. A new Snap Assist UI lets users grab apps from various desktops, pulling them onto their screen in a full-screen view, divided in up to four sections. You can have Bing search along the bottom, a Word doc on top, a PowerPoint to the side and your finder open below it.All apps now runs in a window, so apps from the Windows Store will open in the same format as ones from the desktop, and they can be resized and moved around to users' likings. Title bars along the top let users maximize, minimize and close the apps with a click. In a simple fix - one that should have been added long ago - users can now Crtl+V to paste a command prompt. Touch with Windows 10Though Windows power users were a focus of Microsoft's event, the company also addressed the touch-oriented crowd it tried to attract with Windows 8. The Charms bar isn't going away in Windows 10, though Belfiore said he expects it to change over time. Swiping to the left on a touch-enabled Windows 10 device will pull up task view, complete with larger buttons for a more finger-friendly experience. Swiping to the right pulls up the settings menu. A new design feature called Continuum lets the Windows 10 UI change depending on what device someone is using. Clicking away on a mouse and keyboard? Windows 10 will run in classic desktop mode. Jump to a tablet or a 2-in-1, and you're in tablet mode.The idea behind Continuum seems to be a consistent yet device-optimized design to give users the best Windows 10 experience, no matter what they're using.Expect to hear more on Windows 10, particular its Universal apps, during the Build 2015 conference. Windows 9 ... er 10 ... for enterpriseThe event was billed as an enterprise-focused affair, and Myerson gave plenty of service to the business side of Windows 10. According to Microsoft, Windows 10 offers a modern management platform that provides familiar, compatible and productive service. Enterprises will get a chance to try an early version of Windows 10 before anyone else. The new OS will be able to run all of Microsoft's legacy Windows enterprise apps. IT managers will be able to create customized internal app stores for employees to access, and managing Windows 10 should be a streamlined breeze as it will be accessible on phones, tablets, PCs and more.

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Ladies, Here’s What Really Happens When You Use Birth Control To Skip Your Period

After an excruciating month apart, your long-distance boyfriend is finally visiting you. You bought a sheer, sexy lingerie set and a new perfume from Victoria’s Secret, and you’re ready to tackle him when he gets off the airplane. Your dream vacation in Punta Cana with all of your closest friends has, at last, arrived. Carrying […]
Ladies, Here’s What Really Happens When You Use Birth Control To Skip Your Period

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Powerful Poetry Slam Gives Women Real Sex Tips To Take Their Bodies Back (Video)

Feminism seems to be on everyone’s minds lately, and for good reason. As progressive as we are socially, women and men still aren’t treated equally, especially when it comes to sex. This needs to change. Button Poetry posted this YouTube video of Desireé Dallagiacomo and Kaycee Filson performing an original poem called “Real Sex Tips,” in […]
Powerful Poetry Slam Gives Women Real Sex Tips To Take Their Bodies Back (Video)

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Obnoxious Chiefs Fan Face-F*cks Patriots Fan With Beer Bottle (Video)

The Kansas City Chiefs f*cked the New England Patriots last night on Monday Night Football. First on the field, then in the stands, where one Pats fan could do nothing but sit there and take the berating. Most of us know what the atmosphere is like at an NFL game, but for those of you […]
Obnoxious Chiefs Fan Face-F*cks Patriots Fan With Beer Bottle (Video)

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Muslim Chiefs Player Was Penalized After Kneeling To Pray In The End Zone

Kansas City Chiefs safety Husain Abdullah was handed what just may be the most controversial penalty of the season. After sliding into a kneel for Muslim prayer in the end zone, the six-year veteran was cited for unsportsmanlike conduct, which tacked 15 yards onto the Chiefs’ ensuing kickoff. The episode began once Abdullah intercepted a pass […]
Muslim Chiefs Player Was Penalized After Kneeling To Pray In The End Zone

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The Misery Is Real: 10 Fantasy Football Players You Wish You Never Chose Based On Week 4

We are officially done with the first month of the NFL season! In week four, we saw many breakout performances from a multitude of fantasy stars and sleepers. But, with every breakout performance, there will be awful, surprising stat lines. We present to you, the Week Four Fantasy Bust Bus Riders: QB1: Kirk Cousins — […]
The Misery Is Real: 10 Fantasy Football Players You Wish You Never Chose Based On Week 4

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Why Polynesians Are Genetically Engineered To Be The Best Football Players In The World

What makes a football player great? For years, experts have been trying to qualify that answer by holding rookie combines, crafting scouting reports and reviewing hours of game tape only to come up with numbers that, at the end of the day, still don’t really help us understand what type of player we’re getting. But what if […]
Why Polynesians Are Genetically Engineered To Be The Best Football Players In The World

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Why The Patriots Are Letting Tom Brady Down

If you’re Tom Brady, you have to be pissed right now, right? Over the past 18 months, the New England Patriots have done very little to put him in a position to win (a popular term down in Foxborough). In March 2013, the Patriots let Wes Welker walk in free agency. Not only did he […]
Why The Patriots Are Letting Tom Brady Down

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2015 Kia Rio revealed

The updated 2015 Kia Rio city car has been revealed ahead of its international debut at the 2014 Paris motor show later this week. The revised Rio brings a number of styling adjustments, the most notable being its rear bumper assembly which adopts a bold lower plastic section. The front bumper sees less dramatic styling [...]

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Driver In Croatia Thinks Life Is GTA, Drives Off Drawbridge As It’s Lifting (Video)

When you’re raised watching action movies that don’t subscribe to logic or reason, your view of the world can become a bit twisted. Depending on how bad you are at separating fantasy from reality, it’s important to remember there are certain things that should only be attempted in the movies. For example, I doubt there’s […]
Driver In Croatia Thinks Life Is GTA, Drives Off Drawbridge As It’s Lifting (Video)

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How Madewell Bought And Sold My Family's History

I stopped dead on Broadway, in the middle of the sidewalk, and stared, not up at the beautiful wrought-iron SoHo buildings, as would befit someone who’d moved to New York in the past month, but at an ordinary sign advertising a small clothing shop. The logo, a casual cursive scrawl with both E's capitalized, jumped out at me like a beacon from a lighthouse somewhere deep in the back of my brain. That was the logo emblazoned on my baby clothes, the logo my great-grandfather created. It was, I thought, forgotten family history, the factories having shut down shortly after I was born in the '80s. After a moment I took out my phone and called my mom and asked her what the hell was going on.













The author sporting Madewell baby denim.


Courtesy of the Nosowitz Family.




She’d heard something about this. Madewell was back, somehow, but she wasn’t sure exactly how or why. I wandered inside the store. It was all women’s clothing — expensive women’s clothing. I found a clerk and said, in some jumbled, excited, confused way, that this was my shop, that Madewell was my family’s business. I think she thought I was angling for a discount. After politely and professionally feigning interest while I struggled to explain a history I didn’t even really know, the clerk stopped me. “We don’t sell men’s clothes,” she said.Over the next four years, I saw Madewell everywhere. Today there are three stores in Manhattan alone, and 77 throughout the country. On bags on the subway, on tags of clothes worn by friends, I am constantly bombarded with totems of my family history.Asking my family yielded the basics: Madewell as it stands today began in 2004. That's when Millard "Mickey" Drexler, now the CEO of J.Crew, acquired the logo and the trademark of the company my great-grandfather founded in 1937. Dhani Mau, a senior editor at Fashionista, said, “J.Crew considers it their younger sister brand,” though she said it’s not necessarily for younger sisters. Pressed to pick out a celebrity who might typify the Madewell girl, Mau chose Kate Bosworth and Rachel Bilson. This does not entirely jibe with my mental picture of my tough immigrant great-grandfather selling stiff denim overalls to New England dockworkers.Still, Madewell will not let you forget the date 1937. The store could originally be found online at madewell1937.com, and the year is prominent on the site and on some of the clothing. The company's Instagram and Twitter handles are both still @Madewell1937, and its LinkedIn page says, "Madewell was started in 1937 as a workwear company, and we're always looking to the brand's roots for inspiration."This is, to put it mildly, baloney. Madewell as it stands today has almost nothing at all to do with the company founded by my great-grandfather almost 80 years ago. How many vintage labels out there have similar stories? How many corporations are out there rifling through the defunct brands of America’s past like a bin of used records, looking for something, anything, that will give them that soft Edison-bulb glow of authenticity?Madewell’s story — my story — leading up to that moment in SoHo began over a century ago, half a world away. It traces the evolution of how Americans shop, and how Americans shop heavily informs how Americans see themselves; we, as a country, are what we buy. Mickey Drexler, in creating J.Crew’s new womenswear stores, shrewdly read the market and realized that stocking nice clothes wouldn’t be enough: He’d have to tell a story along with them. Drexler didn’t have any stories, so he bought ours.













A view from the Madewell store in NYC's Soho.


Flickr: Ludovic Bertron / Creative Commons (CC BY 2-0) / Via Flickr: 23912576@N05




Julius Kivowitz was born in Russia in 1889 or thereabouts. His name was not Julius Kivowitz at the time — it was Beham.At the turn of the century, the Russian Empire required that all males, starting at age 20, serve in the army, and Julius seemed to be not very taken with this prospect. The Beham family was fairly well-off and managed to secure a sponsor for Julius in the U.S., in a prosperous Massachusetts port city near Providence called New Bedford. There was only one problem: Any attempt by Julius to leave under his own name would have exposed him as a draft dodger. (Some in my family, including his youngest daughter, referred to him as a "conscientious objector." Whether he objected to war or merely his own participation in the war isn't clear.) My cousin Judy told me that Julius invented his new last name by going to a cemetery and picking out the name of someone who, had he lived, would have been about the same age.













A young Julius Kivowitz seated in the center.


Courtesy of Ellen Horvitz




It was a good time for a Jew to leave Europe. By 1906, pogroms — huge, brutal, bloodthirsty, anti-Jewish riots — were commonplace in the Russian Empire. Mobs of Russians burned and sacked entire Jewish towns, murdering men, women, and children, with the implicit permission or even participation of police. Many Jews fled, the newly renamed Julius Kivowitz and his fiancée, Fannie, among them. (It was somewhat scandalous and also a bit romantic that the two fled together before they were married.) He landed at Ellis Island at age 19, stayed in New York for a few years, moved north to Connecticut, and then went further eastward up the Atlantic coast to New Bedford.













Fannie Kivowitz


Courtesy of Ellen Horvitz




When my great-grandfather arrived there some 90 years ago, New Bedford was just beginning the decline from its status as one of the country’s most bustling, wealthiest port cities. New Bedford had been the whaling capital of the world, one of the settings in Herman Melville's Moby-Dick. Hundreds of huge, magnificent schooners and clipper ships were built and launched from its port. By 1850, thanks mostly to profits from whale oil, New Bedford was the wealthiest city per capita in the country. But the whale oil industry collapsed, and by the time the wave of immigrants that included my great-grandfather and his young family settled there in the 1920s, the town had pretty much abandoned whaling and turned to fishing and manufacturing.Julius, like so many of his generation of immigrant Eastern European Jews, was an entrepreneur with no particular passion besides financial success. First he opened a grocery store, earning enough money to, along with a partner from New York, move into textiles. It was a natural move for Julius, as it was for many other Jews, who brought a centuries-long tradition of textile manufacturing with them from Europe. Beginning around the 16th century in Eastern Europe, Russian and Polish Jews began working with wool. By the 1860s, heavily Jewish cities like Lodz and Bialystok were textile-manufacturing centers; more than half of the textile industry in Bialystock was Jewish-owned. This was pretty much stamped out by the 1930s, thanks to decades of violent anti-Semitism perpetrated by independent Poland. But Julius had already fled Eastern Europe and made his home in New Bedford.In 1936, Julius filed for the Madewell trademark, and in 1937 he opened his first factory. No one seems to know why he picked — or if he himself even did pick — that name. But I don’t think his English was ever all that good, and there’s something very clean and utilitarian about it.













The Kivowitz kids: (from Left) Barbara, Lillian, Beatrice and Haskell.


Courtesy of Ellen Horvitz




There is nobody alive who remembers the earliest chapters of Madewell. The only one of Julius' children still living is my great-aunt Barbara, the youngest of the Kivowitz brood by nine years. Her husband, Aaron, ran the shipping department of Madewell, but didn't come on until 1951. Nobody knows much about that mysterious New York partner who oversaw the factory floor but vanished from the company within a few decades. Nobody knows how many workers — "stitchers," they were called — were employed at first. Nobody, to be frank, seems to know much about Julius. The documents I could find from that era give the date of the company’s founding but not much else; whatever records Madewell kept from its early years are gone. After questioning damn near everybody still alive who ever met him, here are the facts I gathered about my great-grandfather:1. He spoke mostly a mix of Yiddish, Russian, and English, with a thick accent.2. He was rarely seen without a cigar.3. He loved the card game pinochle, and played every week.4. He didn’t talk much, and I can find exactly no one who can recall him saying a single word about his childhood in Russia.5. He liked nice things. He built a big house and filled it with expensive appliances and Oriental rugs, which seems to have annoyed his wife Fannie, who did not care much for extravagance.That's it.His employees at the time likely included the dominant immigrant groups of New Bedford: Portuguese speakers largely from the Azores and Cape Verde, French Canadians, and possibly some Jews. The company at the onset was designed smartly and specifically to cater to the substantial working class of the community: It made jeans, dungarees (which differ from jeans in that the threads are pre-dyed before weaving), and bib overalls. These were hardy work clothes, intended for use inside the factories and fisheries of New England.
















Courtesy of the Nosowitz Family




Madewell was a family operation. Julius' son Haskell and his sons-in-law Aaron and Jerry ran departments (sales, shipping, and manufacturing, respectively) within the company. Various cousins and nephews and nieces and grandchildren worked there during summer vacations from school. Gradually, as Haskell took a larger role in the company, Madewell branched out into other clothes.By the early 1960s, Haskell's strategy to diversify Madewell’s offerings (and to sell to larger department and discount stores) had kicked into high gear, as it began to make children's and women's clothes. It’s sort of hard to get a sense of what Madewell really was at the time — my great-grandfather had to be cajoled and sometimes tricked into allowing his company to change, but the company seemed built to adapt pragmatically to each era.













Keeping Up With the Kivowitzes


Courtesy of the Nosowitz Family




The company didn't have any particular aesthetic. Most of the clothes were contracted, made by any of several other factories and stamped with the Madewell name. Madewell had lots of partners at other factories — one in Georgia, one in Kentucky, among others — that would take care of the design and manufacturing. If Haskell or Jerry or Julius went to a local department store and saw that corduroy-lined denim jackets were selling well, they'd come back to the factory and tell one of the stitchers to make one. If the stitcher wasn't sure how, they'd buy one of those jackets, tear it apart, and make a pattern out of it, then re-create it. Or if that seemed like too much trouble, they'd call one of their contacts at another factory, say, "Make us a corduroy-lined jacket," stamp their logo on it, and sell that. Madewell’s logo didn’t necessarily indicate who physically created the garment, but simply who was selling it."We didn't do too much of that designing bullshit," my great-uncle Aaron told me. Aaron is a warm, tough, stocky man whose crushing handshake hasn’t lessened in strength even as he ages into his eighties. As we talked at his kitchen table, looking out on wild turkeys strutting through his backyard in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, he would occasionally sing what I think is a line from “Memory,” from the musical Cats. "The only stuff we did in-house was the rough stuff,” he said. “Denim, brown duck pants, carpenter stuff." During Aaron's tenure, there were only ever around 25 stitchers at Madewell who actually made clothes. I asked Aaron who designed that stuff. "You copy somebody else's!" he laughed. "Come on, 'design.' It was not a fancy place, Dan. No such thing as 'designing.'"Aaron bristled when I asked if the Madewell clothes were high quality — "Oh, yes, they were very well made," he said — but these weren't exactly pioneering designers crafting original clothing out of a deep passion. They weren't inventors or artists. They looked at what was selling and made some of that to sell. It was a business, and Madewell did what made sense from a business perspective. J.Crew’s Madewell is grasping to emulate some sepia-hued commitment to quality in the original company, some moral or ethical standard from better, more authentic times. But that’s not what motivated my great-grandfather at all — his motivation was profit, and quality was a means to an end.
















Dan Nosowitz /




New Bedford is one of the last towns you pass through as you drive eastward out to Cape Cod, which hooks out from the East Coast like a flexed arm. It’s located on the coast of Buzzards Bay, which carves a messy notch into the underside of Massachusetts. It would be uncharitable, but not inaccurate, to say that New Bedford is the armpit of Massachusetts.Despite a cute, gentrified waterfront area and a few museums, the city is today one of the poorest and most dangerous in the state. Big brick factories, either barely used or totally vacant, are everywhere; the unemployment rate hovers above 10%. In the 1990s, the city attempted to rename the area the “South Coast,” because merely the name of New Bedford signifies decay, depression, and loss.And still, New Bedford looks like a port city in the way that only New England towns can. Trim three- and four-story houses, mostly in sea-weathered gray, line the streets. Every turn seemingly leads to the water, the smell of which is everywhere. Huge stone levees, looking like the organized results of avalanches, do their best to protect the city from the Atlantic's wrath, and roads that cut through these levees are equipped with alarmingly heavy-duty iron gates, up to 20 feet high, that can close if water approaches.













Vintage Madewell jeans at Circa Vintage


Dan Nosowitz /




Circa Vintage Wear on 73 Cove St. is airy and industrial, still chilly in the Massachusetts spring. The medium-size, mostly unmarked brick factory, just beside the ocean, smelled of old fabric and dust and wood shavings, a pleasant perfume that changes subtly as you move through the decades upon decades of vintage clothing and accessories. In one corner, a wall of nothing but circular hatboxes reached to the high ceiling. A twentysomething who would later buy a pair of shiny gold dress shoes examined an entire case of bow ties. Semi-broken old mannequins wearing everything from frilly white gowns to what looked like old high school marching band uniforms stood sentry in aisles of clothes from wildly disparate eras. In the racks, jammed up against what must have been dozens of other stories just as rich and as weird as mine, were a few pieces of original Madewell.There were heavy-duty jumpsuits, which must have dated from the 1940s or 1950s. There was a denim jacket with a striped, sweater-like lining and a corduroy collar. There was a pair of Dickies-like blue chino work pants. There was a pair of bell-bottoms from the 1970s that could have been made by Levi's or Wrangler or lots of other big international brands — but the bell-bottoms, the jumpsuits, the jacket, and the work pants all boasted that label, that great logo, that stopped me dead in my tracks in New York years before.Chris Duval opened Circa in 1986 and has been pretty much its sole employee ever since. Wearing a pale denim jacket and tough denim work pants, Duval is short and slender and speaks with a thick South Coast accent, which is somewhere between Boston and cartoon pirate, and all of his statements sound like they should end with an exclamation point. He told me that he likes to sit down with the people from whom he buys his wares and learn about the history of each piece."When this whole thing came about with J.Crew, I was devastated," he said, in the same tone that a fan of an indie band might have bemoaned signing to a major label in 1995. "When that happened, workwear was just coming back. So I thought, Oh, cool, they're gonna do a workwear line inspired by Madewell. But it has nothing to do with that! It's Chinese crap!"Duval found the way J.Crew touted its connection to the original Madewell especially galling. "You go to the flagship store in New York and there's a big thing about New Bedford and its heritage, and I'm like, Oh, god, this is so sad!" Duval told me that he liked to put pictures of his original Madewell goods on Instagram and taunt J.Crew about its "Madewell in name only" clothes. "They're using the original brand to push something that has nothing to do with the original brand," he said.I looked more closely at the flannel-lined denim jacket. It was cool, and vintage, and, being that my great-grandfather’s company made it, I’d have a great story behind it. I tried it on and immediately took it off. I looked like I was wearing a costume. I hadn’t realized how reliant my taste in clothes is on modern shapes; I didn’t at all care for the boxy, un-tailored fit of the jacket, the baggy sleeves, or the too-smooth washed denim. The jacket may have been my birthright, but it wasn’t my style.
















Dan Nosowitz /

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Men's Fashion Socks Drive Billions In Sock Sales

Socks are “making a move from commodity to fashion piece,” says market research group NPD Group. The foot garments now represent a $5.6 billion industry.
















Via aceandeverett.com











The big boom in men's fashion is happening in socks, according to market research firm NPD Group.

Sock sales grew by 2% into a $5.6 billion industry in the 12 months ending August 2014, outpacing growth in the $206.7 billion global apparel market, the firm said in a statement today. Men drove the trend, as "over the past year years, socks have become yet another outlet for expressing the extra splash of pattern and color they seek," said chief industry analyst Marshal Cohen.

Socks have become a way for men to express themselves in recent years though they might not yet be the "new 'necktie,'" as NPD suggested. The trend has given rise to multiple sock subscription services such as Foot Cardigan and Sock Panda, and Nordstrom sells socks that cost as much as $80 a pair. (That's for Alexander McQueen creations.) Retailers like J. Crew sell many of its men's socks for $14.50 to $35 a pair.

About 73% of men wear socks almost every day, versus 41% of women, NPD says. Men also tend to spend more on socks.

This represents a missed opportunity for the retail industry, Cohen says.

"Retailers and manufacturers should find ways to reinvigorate this category for women by setting a new fashion statement, one that treats socks as an accessory, something special, and not a basic commodity," he said. "If women will wear shorts with tights in colder weather and boots during warmer seasons, they will find more room for socks in their wardrobes."
























Via shop.nordstrom.com

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Pebble, A Smartwatch With A Week-Long Battery, Now Tracks Sleep Habits

The company is releasing a major update to its 400,000-plus watches in the wild. It’s also selling its watches with retailers internationally.
















Alissa Holland/flickr Editorial / Getty Images











With Apple unveiling a luxury-skewed smart watch, and Android releasing software to many manufacturers making their own smart watches, one startup, Pebble, is betting there's more than enough room for a third major manufacturer.

To that effect, Pebble — known for having a battery that lasts and a screen that's always on — is adding activity and sleep tracking as part of a software update to all of the more than 400,000 smart watches it has shipped. With today's update, Pebble owners will be able to track their activity — even swimming — and sleep using software created by other activity-tracking companies like Jawbone and Misfit. Overnight, what was once a smart watch with a portfolio of apps will also become an activity tracker, CEO Eric Migicovsky said.

"Apple is taking one smart watch strategy which revolves around the luxury angle, creating a really high-end quality product with good materials. I think they've made a very Apple-y stab at the problem," Migicovsky told News. "I'm the first to admit it's a great-looking product, it's beautiful, I could see someone swapping out their Rolex. [Google's approach is] a little like strapping an Android phone to your wrist, they're still figuring out the use cases. We've been working on it for several years and we know what people do with smart watches, which is tell the time. We're the smart watch that's affordable that does the right things, it's not an overly complicated smart phone on your wrist, and it gets better over time."

Many wearable device creators are placing increased importance on sleep-tracking, as previously detailed by News. Whole companies, like San Francisco-based startup Hello, are springing up with devices centered around sleep-tracking, and the addition to Pebble comes at a time when smart watches like the Apple Watch and Android Wear devices have batteries that need to be recharged every night. That makes them unreliable for sleep tracking, while the Pebble smart watch will only see a marginal reduction in battery — about a half day of its typical week-long battery, Migicovsky said.

Migicovsky said the addition of sleep tracking was partly inspired by his own odd sleeping hours, and tracking his sleep helped get him in the right mindset. Others have agreed: "Every day, it seems, there's a new study speaking to the irrefutable benefits of sleep on our health, our productivity, our creativity, and our decision-making ability," Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington told News in an earlier interview.

Activity-tracking, too, has become a core part of most smart devices, including smartphones. Apple's latest operating system, iOS 8, includes a swath of software tools called HealthKit that help iPhone owners track their overall health and activity. Still, sleep-tracking is not something that appears included, and seems to otherwise be limited by the Apple Watch's requirement to be charged often. Pebble is opening up some of the watch to activity-tracker developers in order to run apps in the background, but anyone is actually able to develop apps for the watch — which has more than 4,000 apps available.

The company also said it would drop the price of its smart watch to $99 for the standard edition, and $199 for the higher-quality production Pebble Steel smart watch. That puts it at roughly one fourth of the cost of the Apple Watch at its lowest estimated price point, and cheaper than many Android Wear devices, while being compatible with most major smartphones instead of being dependent on a single operating system like iOS and Android.

Pebble also said it was rolling out to retailers internationally today as well. The company has shipped its smart watches to customers in more than 150 countries, and Migicovsky said adding the device to retailers is the best way to help it spread with word of mouth marketing from existing customers.

Historically, there has been room for a cheap option in the smartphone market, with cheaper Android phones helping Google capture a dominating share of the number of smartphones shipping with its operating system. Apple has traditionally been seen as a higher-priced, higher-end device — and that has continued with the Apple Watch, with luxury editions estimated to be priced in the thousands of dollars.




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As Malls Get On Board, Same-Day Delivery Becoming The Norm

More retailers are getting in on same-day delivery this holiday season. The economics of the business finally make sense, experts tell News.
















Ralph D. Freso / Reuters











Five years after Amazon introduced same-day delivery, it's finally catching on with mass retailers.

Macy's said its namesake chain and Bloomingdale's will start piloting same-day delivery in eight major markets this fall, while Neiman Marcus started testing the service in three cities earlier this year. Both department-store companies are using startup Deliv, which has partnered with a laundry list of other retailers and America's biggest mall operators, including General Growth Properties and Simon Property, to make same-day delivery as inexpensive as standard shipping.

Cheap same-day delivery for items like sweaters and Lego sets is the next step in the smartphone-enabled instant gratification trend that's already changing transportation and food delivery. A confluence of factors is hitting at just the right time: retailers finally have the right technology in place after upgrading their systems to accommodate the new norm of "buy online, pick-up in store," labor is cheaper and more connected than ever, and of course, they're motivated by fear of Amazon. Adding to that, mall owners, nervous about their own future, are subsidizing the service.

And it's not just big retailers — just a few weeks ago, apparel startup Everlane started offering one-hour delivery in San Francisco with the help of Postmates. Amazon now offers "Get it Today" in 12 markets, seven days a week, after steadily building up to 70 million square feet of fulfillment center space at the end of last year.

Since Macy's announced its partnership with Deliv this month, the startup has been "flooded with inbound requests," Daphne Carmeli, founder and chief executive of the startup, told News. "We talk to hundreds of retailers. It's not a question of if I'm going to jump on same-day delivery, it's when and where I start it. I think 2014 is much more aggressive in the volumes we're seeing, and the traction we're seeing is much higher than 2013...it's just growing."

The trend, like many others in the retail industry, can be traced back to Amazon.

"Amazon in the last year has put a tremendous amount of muscle in marketing this notion that you as a shopper can get things whenever you want, you can get it fast and you can get it cheap," Carmeli said. "Whether it's drones, or algorithms, anticipatory shipping, building out warehouses — they're doing so much to get consumers used to the fact that this is going to be fast and cheap and that same-day is going to be the new standard."

Shipping costs, which were once a major barrier for retailers, are much lower than they used to be.

Amazon's same-day delivery costs just $5.99 for Prime members; non-members pay $9.98 for the first item and a 99-cent fee for additional products. Everlane is charging $4.99 for one item; order two or more and the service is free. As for items shipped through Deliv, Carmeli says the delivery fee tends to be between $8 and $10, though it can go as low as $5 as mall operators and retailers offer discounts in hopes of getting customers hooked on the convenience. Foot Locker, which is testing same-day and next-day delivery at five California stores, says the option is only $5 thanks to the partnerships with Deliv and mall operators.

Michael Preysman, founder and CEO of Everlane, says it's not much more expensive to do one-hour delivery with Postmates than it is to ship from the company's warehouse in Denver. He said he sees the rise of cheap same-day delivery as a smartphone-driven phenomenon.

"There's this whole network of couriers that have come about, whether it's Uber, which is doing a bit of delivery stuff, or Postmates, or Instacart, which is starting to bring in more than just groceries," he said. "There's this massive workforce that's completely mobile all the time that didn't exist three years ago."

He noted that same-day delivery is still in its early days, though.

"We don't totally know what the impact is going to be, but there were two ideas," he said. "One is that the convenience is just amazing — you order and literally 40 minutes later, it's at your doorstep. It's this idea of, 'Why would I shop anywhere else?' And as we think about driving activation, we always think of how we lower the barrier to purchase, and a big barrier of purchasing is, 'Well, it'll arrive in four days, so I'll go to my local store.' With this, it's 'Forget it, I'll try Everlane and see if it works."

Still, more consumers are beginning to accept ever-faster shipping as the norm.

"These delivery options, I think it's all part of what the customer is expecting these days," Karen Katz, chief executive officer of Neiman Marcus, told analysts and investors earlier this month. "She just wants optionality."

Greg Greeley, vice president of Amazon Prime, echoed the sentiment.

"More customers have been opting for same-day delivery this year in particular because of the recent improvements we have made to our service," he said in an e-mail to News. "Prime has made two-day shipping an every day experience rather than an occasional indulgence...and now, Amazon ships more than twice as many items with Prime than with our traditional free shipping. During that same time, we have also dramatically expanded our offering of same-day and one-day shipping alternatives for Prime members – and members are embracing these new delivery options."














Contact the reporter on this story at sapna.m@.com.




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These Are The Best Possible Responses To Texts From Thirsty Exes (Photos)

People have always had rocky relationships, but it’s taken a while to reach a point where we can document the lowest moments of our private lives to share them online with strangers for some reason I haven’t entirely figured out. Texts From Your Ex is a recently launched Instagram account devoted to posting screenshots of […]
These Are The Best Possible Responses To Texts From Thirsty Exes (Photos)

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47 Reasons Why Corporate America Needs To Die Before It Kills Us All

Corporate America used to be that friendly giant who welcomed all. If you owned a suit and tie, a bachelor’s degree and a glossy résumé, you were in. You were part of his house and if you played by his rules, you could stay there as long as you wanted and maybe one day move […]
47 Reasons Why Corporate America Needs To Die Before It Kills Us All

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Robert Downey, Jr. Pens Beautiful Tribute To His Mother Who Recently Passed Away

Robert Downey, Jr.’s mother passed away last week and in order to honor her memory, Downey, Jr. wrote a heartfelt post about her on his Facebook page. Her name was Elsie Ann Ford, and she died at age 80. Downey, Jr. wrote that his mother was a major influence on him and, much like himself, […]
Robert Downey, Jr. Pens Beautiful Tribute To His Mother Who Recently Passed Away

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Walmart Says Tracy Morgan Is At Partial Fault For Crash As He Wasn’t Wearing Seatbelt

I’m sure you remember the horrific car accident involving Tracy Morgan this past summer. Morgan was in a limousine when the vehicle was slammed into by a Walmart truck. Morgan suffered major injuries to his ribs and legs, while his friend, James McNair, was killed in the crash. Naturally, Morgan sued Walmart, as the driver of […]
Walmart Says Tracy Morgan Is At Partial Fault For Crash As He Wasn’t Wearing Seatbelt

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Reese Witherspoon Demands That Her Sex Scenes In Movies Be ‘Real’ And ‘Raw’

Reese Witherspoon seems primed to make something of a comeback in the upcoming year. She’s starring in a dark, gritty film called “Wild,” which is directed by the same guy who did “Dallas Buyers Club.” She’s also set to make appearances in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Inherent Vice” and a film about Sudanese refugees called “The […]
Reese Witherspoon Demands That Her Sex Scenes In Movies Be ‘Real’ And ‘Raw’

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Brad Pitt Says Shia LaBeouf Is One Of The Best Actors He’s Ever Seen

Brad Pitt is starring in the new World War II film “Fury,” with none other than Shia LaBeouf. Shia, of course, has had his troubles of late. But, you wouldn’t know it from talking to Pitt. Pitt claims Shia is one the best actors he’s ever worked with. That’s one hell of a claim, considering Pitt […]
Brad Pitt Says Shia LaBeouf Is One Of The Best Actors He’s Ever Seen

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Taylor Swift Sings Adele’s ‘Someone Like You’ With A Cancer Patient (Video)

I honestly don’t know how Taylor Swift finds the time to do all the amazing things she does. She had fans over to her house for a special listening party. She made an awesome music video for “Shake It Off.” And she also visits sick children in the hospital and plays music with them. Back […]
Taylor Swift Sings Adele’s ‘Someone Like You’ With A Cancer Patient (Video)

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Stop Worrying About ‘The Amanda Show’ — Leave Bynes (And Her Recent DUI) Alone

For many, Amanda Bynes was a first introduction to comedy. She burst onto the scene with her sketch-stealing performances on Nickelodeon’s version of “SNL,” “All That.” She was shockingly young, uncommonly composed and crazy talented. In one of her recurring sketches, she was Ashley, a child version of “Dear Abby,” who hilariously snapped from sweet […]
Stop Worrying About ‘The Amanda Show’ — Leave Bynes (And Her Recent DUI) Alone

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Meet Ashraf Ghani, Afghanistan's New President

Ghani’s inauguration marked Afghanistan’s first democratic transfer of power — and the end to Hamid Karzai’s 13-year rule.









This is Ashraf Ghani, Afghanistan's new president. His inauguration Monday was a momentous moment for the war-torn country. The ceremony followed months of bickering over election results, and marked the country’s first democratic transfer of power.



The day of the inauguration, Taliban attacks in Kabul killed at least 15 people, including five civilians, The Wall Street Journal reported.


Omar Sobhani / Reuters














Ghani is a former U.S. citizen and World Bank official. He is seen as friendly to the U.S. Ghani faces serious domestic battles, with corruption, Taliban violence, and a poor economy making life for many Afghans a daily struggle.






Omar Sobhani / Reuters














Ghani replaced Hamid Karzai, who ruled Afghanistan for 13 years. Karzai was Afghanistan’s first elected president since the U.S.-led war in 2001. He was re-elected in 2009 amid accusations of election fraud.






Omar Sobhani / Reuters














Karzai could not run in the 2014 elections held last spring because of term limits. Back in April, Afghans first went to the polls to vote in a new president. The elections came amid a rise in terror attacks by the Taliban, who warned people not to vote.



People did anyway, with issues like corruption, security, and the economy top concerns.


Anadolu Agency / Getty Images




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Students Are Doing Their Homework While Protesting In The Streets Of Hong Kong

Now you have no excuses for handing your homework in late.





















































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Netanyahu Shows Photos Of Hamas Torturing Men In Orange Jumpsuits During NY Talk

Some found the visual aid, reminiscent of ISIS’s beheading videos, insensitive.



































Last month, Netanyahu tweeted an image from the video of the killing of American journalist James Foley. The tweet was taken down, but not before it was retweeted hundreds of times.


















Many media outlets refused to publish photos of Foley, as well as of journalist Steven Sotloff, in the orange-clad jumpsuit. Friends and family of the two called for an "ISIS media blackout," arguing that posting photos of them minutes before their deaths was insensitive and served ISIS's purposes. Netanyahu's tweets, they said, were damaging and inappropriate.







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20 Reasons Fran Drescher Was The Best Role Model Of The '90s

That ’90s feminist swag, though. Happy birthday, Fran Drescher!






























CBS / frandrescherr.tumblr.com





















CBS / frandrescherr.tumblr.com





















CBS / frandrescherr.tumblr.com




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10 Reasons Gwen Stefani Should Always Win "The Voice"

She def ain’t no hollaback girl!









She shamelessly trys to buy-off her mentees.






Mark Burnett Productions / One Three Media / Warner Horizon Television / Via tears-dry.tumblr.com














Then performs very cute victory dances when she does buy them off!



Look at that effortless running man in wicked high stilettos!


Mark Burnett Productions / One Three Media / Warner Horizon Television / Via bricesander.tumblr.com














She gives us fans much needed glimpses into her personal life.



She is just like one of us!


Mark Burnett Productions / One Three Media / Warner Horizon Television / Via tears-dry.tumblr.com














She throws some seriously sassy shade.






Mark Burnett Productions / One Three Media / Warner Horizon Television / Via aflawedfashion.tumblr.com




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Kristin Chenoweth Will Blow You Away In This Exclusive Clip From "I Am Harvey Milk"

has an exclusive first look of the Emmy and Tony award winner as she rehearses for the New York premiere of I AM HARVEY MILK , co-starring lyricist and composer Andrew Lippa.
















Timmy Blupe











Andrew Lippa's oratorio about the life of America's first openly gay politician to be elected to public office is finally making its way to New York, for one night only, at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. The piece, which premiered in July 2013 with the help of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, follows the life of Milk from childhood through his assassination. "Harvey Milk himself was a very uplifting hopeful, person. Leaping, trying something before you know what the end result is going to be. Moving, you might soar. It's great lesson for us all today," Chenoweth told .

The production will feature Lippa in the title role along with Chenoweth and a chorus of over 125 singers. "I've now rehearsed it for several weeks and it still brings me to tears, and always in different spots," Chenoweth added of the show which benefits the Harvey Milk Arts Fund and includes a committee of stars supporting the production including Senators Tammy Baldwin and Kirsten Gillibrand as well as stars like Hugh Jackman, Julianne Moore, Jonathan Groff, and Alan Cumming. "I love that Harvey Milk single-handedly changed the gay community with his love and hope. And because of him, in his death, it was truly the beginning of change. And I'm proud Andrew chose to write about him."

















Check out the exclusive clip of "Leap" here:

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Tell Us About Yourself(ie): Ryan Rottman

Michael Buckner / Getty. Chris Ritter / .


























What's your wallpaper on your phone and/or computer?The Temptation of St. Anthony by Salvador Dali.When you walk into a bar, what do you typically order?Titos vodka and soda.What's the one word you are guilty of using too often?Brotha.





















What is the last thing you searched for on Google?Fly killing salt gun.Who is the last person that called or texted you?Ramsey Krull.What was the last awkward situation you were in and how did you handle it?My scene partner in acting class had awful breath and we had to yell at each other in the scene. I thought my brows were going to burn off. I told him I thought our characters should be chewing gum in the scene and gave him a piece to chew on.





















When is the last time you went to a theater?To see Neighbors at iPic in Los Angeles.What TV show everyone should be watching?The Killing and Happyland, of course.And what is your TV guilty pleasure?The entire ID Network.What's the first album you bought?





















Bush.What music are you currently listening to?Magic Man – Waves.What is the one food you cannot resist?Sushi.What movie makes you laugh the most?Christmas Vacation.What drives you absolutely crazy?People who chew with their mouths open.Pick one: Kittens or puppies?





















Puppies.New York or Los Angeles?LA (Love me some beaches).Comedy or drama?Comedy.Bacon or Nutella?Both together.'80s or '90s?90's with my JNCO jeans. Ha!Hannah Montana or Lizzie McGuire?





















Topanga.And finally: tell us a secret.I own part of an energy drink company called, ARMA.





















Catch Ryan in MTV's Happyland — premiering tonight at 11/10c on MTV!




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Lorde Wrote The Most Mushy Comment About How Much She Loves Taylor Swift

#BestFriendGoals









Taylor Swift, queen of friends, wrote yet another touching message to her best friend Lorde.






Via girlmarriesgirl.tumblr.com


































"Proud. @lordemusic"


instagram.c...

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Mindy Kaling Teached Elmo What "Enthusiastic" Means

We’re very enthusiastic about this Sesame Street cameo.
















youtube.com



































Sesame Street / youtu.be





















Sesame Street / youtu.be




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Matt Bomer Joins Ryan Gosling & Russell Crowe In ‘The Nice Guys’

EXCLUSIVE: Matt Bomer has been set to star opposite Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in The Nice Guys, the action drama that Iron Man 3's Shane Black wrote and is directing with Joel Silver producing at Warner Bros. I would say that Bomer plays the heavy, but he'll be carrying little if any body fat as he comes right from Savannah after he wraps the Steven Soderbergh-directed sequel Magic Mike XXL. I can still remember when Bomer, a complete unknown, was verging on being…

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Naomi Campbell To Recur On Fox’s ‘Empire'; Tina Casciani Joins CW’s ‘Jane The Virgin’

Naomi Campbell has booked a recurring role on Fox's midseason drama Empire. The hip-hop industry drama from Lee Daniels, Danny Strong and Brian Grazer centers on Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard), a music superstar who is about to take his company public. Campbell will play Camilla, an alluring woman involved in a steamy affair with Hakeem (Bryshere Gray), the much-younger potential heir to his father's throne, over whom she exercises considerable influence. Supermodel…

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IATSE Hits Bravo With Unfair Labor Practices Charges Over ‘Shahs Of Sunset’ Firings

EXCLUSIVE: Three days after the NBCUniversal-owned cable network took over control of Season 4 of Shahs of Sunset and canned the striking postproduction staff, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees has made a big move of its own. Representing the Motion Pictures Editors Guild, the union today filed Unfair Labor Practice charges against Bravo Media with the National Labor Relations Board.
“Within the past six months the Employer has violated the Act by…

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Broadway Box Office Steady At $22M; ‘Matilda’ Up $103K

With 30 shows on the boards (including six in previews up until Sunday's opening of You Can't Take It With You), Week 18 of the Broadway season was all but identical to the prior stand. London import The Curious Incident Of The Dog in The Night-Time was up $124,000 for seven previews and played to full houses at the Ethel Barrymore in anticipation of its October 5 opening, according to figures released by the trade group Broadway League.
Matilda, another UK import…

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‘Ray Donovan’ Finale Ratings Hit Series High; ‘Masters Of Sex’ Down

One Showtime series saw a kid's birthday party and some partnerships come to an end while the other heralded the beginning of John F. Kennedy's presidency. However, both Ray Donovan and Masters Of Sex ended their second seasons last night with one way up and one not so much.
With 2 million watching the 9 PM show, the Season 2 finale of Hollywood fixer series Ray Donovan was up 40% from the 1.406 million who tuned in for the Season 1 ender on September 22 last year, the…

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What Is SoftBank, And Why Might It Want DreamWorks Animation?

A lot of people in Hollywood are asking that question today after word spread over the weekend that the DreamWorks Animation  board met last week to consider a potential offer that would put a $3.3B valuation on the independent studio. Few up to now figured SoftBank into the mix of possible buyers. But you can't blame the Japanese Internet and telecom company for that. The No. 3 wireless provider in its home country, and a player in the U.S. following its $21.6B acquisitio…

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5 Childhood Fall Traditions That Should Be Perfectly Acceptable To Carry Into Adulthood

Fall is, hands down, the best season at any age. However, as I get a little older, I’ve realized that there are certain expectations of which activities you should and should not partake in as an adult. Apparently, some of the fall fun I had as a kid is no longer “age appropriate.” Well, I […]
5 Childhood Fall Traditions That Should Be Perfectly Acceptable To Carry Into Adulthood

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In Defense Of The Free-Spirited: How The Way Of Life Is Both A Blessing And A Curse

Fly. Spread your wings. Explore the highest heights. Say yes more often than you say no. Live fearlessly and indulge every single opportunity that comes your way. Don’t be afraid to dream big and conquer all of your quests, regardless of what society deems to be appropriate. Life is yours for the taking; you dictate […]
In Defense Of The Free-Spirited: How The Way Of Life Is Both A Blessing And A Curse

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It’s The Little Things: 5 Of The Best Feelings Of Satisfaction In The World

Nine times out of 10, the best feelings we ever experience have some kind of physical tie-in, whether they evoke pleasure or reassurance: a supportive a hug, an adrenaline-pumping high-five, intimacy with your significant other, so on and so forth. Although the physicality of emotions allows us to tap into our passions and the true […]
It’s The Little Things: 5 Of The Best Feelings Of Satisfaction In The World

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Bathroom Graffiti Quotes Make Motivational Pictures So Much Less Inspirational (Photos)

In the past few years, the Internet has been flooded with something I like to call “Tumblr pictures”: photographs filtered to look older than they actually are plastered with pseudo-inspirational messages for people who enjoy reblogging quotes from authors they’ve never heard of to make other people think they’re cultured. I’m not disparaging anyone who […]
Bathroom Graffiti Quotes Make Motivational Pictures So Much Less Inspirational (Photos)

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Uber Uses The Same Statement Almost Every Time A Driver Gets Accused Of Bad Behavior

Safety is Uber’s No. 1 priority. Safety is Uber’s #1 priority. Safety is…
















Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters











When an Uber driver gets accused of behaving badly, the story inevitably ends up making national news. But no matter what the alleged offense, Uber has repeatedly used the same statement to assure the public it's trying to improve.

Uber requires background checks for all of its drivers, but the ridesharing company has been accused in many of the places it operates of not being thorough enough.

"Safety is our #1 priority," or some version of that, has made its way into numerous reports about drivers doing everything from sexually assaulting passengers to attacking them with hammers.














Uber said: "Rider safety is Uber's No. 1 priority. We take reports like this seriously and are treating the matter with utmost urgency and care."














Uber said: "Safety is Uber's #1 priority. We take reports like this seriously and are treating the matter with the utmost urgency and care."







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Iowa GOP Senate Candidate's Husband Sued House Painter Over Unfinished Work

The threat of potential legal action from Democratic opponent Bruce Braley toward a neighbor has become a major issue in the Iowa Senate campaign.
















Joni For Iowa Facebook











Republicans in Iowa have cried foul over Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley's dispute over his neighbors chickens crossing onto his yard, which he implied he would take legal action to resolve it.

But Braley's challenger, Republican Joni Ernst, has had her own past legal dispute: Her husband sued — and won — against a house-painter over unfinished work on the Ernsts' home.

Gail Ernst, Ernst's husband, eventually had the court garnish the painter's property — including a truck — when he couldn't pay the amount rendered in the judgement.

An Ernst spokesperson told News, "Unlike Washington politicians who spend money with no regard for what they get, Joni actually believes that when you spend money, you should get something in return."

The threat of a lawsuit in the Braley chicken dispute has become a major element in the campaign this year. Ernst has used the incident to call Braley, who was formerly the president of the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association, "a litigious individual" whose behavior in the incident was "not the Iowa way."

In another interview with Chris Moody of Yahoo News Ernst hammered Braley, arguing the way to resolve a dispute is to reach out to the other person.

"He is a trial attorney and the only way he knew how to solve a problem is to threaten to sue a neighbor over a chicken," she said. "The Iowa way, if I had a disagreement, was to reach out to my neighbor and say, 'Hey come on over, let's have a glass of tea and let's talk about this.'"

In another interview with Radio Iowa, Ernst she said Braley's actions were not "Iowa way."

"When Iowans find themselves at odds with each other, the way we should do business is through words, amicably, with a handshake," Ernst said.

















In July 2002, Ernst's husband Gail wrote an email to the Better Business Bureau of Iowa saying a man named Steve Akers failed to finish painting their house despite a $3,000 advance. Ernst said he wanted Akers to finish the job.






Via Court Documents














Here's a copy of the original contract sent to "Gale(sic) and Joni Ernst":






Steve Akers Painting




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